William Harvey was born in Folkestone, England on April 1, 1578.
He graduated at age 24 as a Doctor of Medicine from the University of Padua in April of 1602. He then earned his degree at Cambridge University.
He was the first to describe the systematic circulation of blood being pumped to the body by the heart.
In 1604, he joined the College of Physicians and shortly after, in 1607, he accepted a position at St. Bartholomew's Hospital.
Harvey was appointed to the office of Lumleian Lecturer in 1615. The purpose of this position was to "spread light" and general knowledge on the subject of anatomy throughout England.
In 1618, he became a physician to James I and in 1632, he became a physician to Charles I.
