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GUILIELMUS HARVEIUS ANGLUS
Medicus Regius et Professor Anatomiae in Collegio Medicorum Londinensi
William Harvey and Roehampton
William Harvey, as almost everyone knows, discovered and described
the circulation of the blood. This is not merely of academic
interest because his epoch making discovery inaugurated a new era
and is the foundation of modern medical practice. Since in presentday
urbanised countries it is given to few to escape the need of consulting
a doctor at some time or other, Harvey's discovery directly or
indirectly affects each one of us. Harvey, however, was more than
one of the greatest, probably the greatest of all physicians. He has
been described as "one of the three or four greatest intelligences of
all time" and I have little doubt that this is a just appraisal.
Harvey died on 3rd June, 1657, at the age of 79, in Roehampton,
which is situated in this Borough, although he was buried in Hempstead
in Essex. To commemorate the tercentenary of his death last
year, many functions were held in many parts of the world. Books
were published, banquets held, lectures given and there was a pilgrimage
to the place where he lies buried in Hempstead, Essex. The
Russians issued a special stamp bearing Harvey's picture. My
colleagues and I felt that we could best pay our tribute to Harvey's
memory by visiting the place in our Borough where he died. Unfortunately,
no-one could tell us where this was although a number of
Harveian authorities were consulted. It was felt that this should, if
possible, be remedied and over the past year, as time has permitted,
I have been carrying out an investigation to find out where, in fact,
it was that Harvey died. In this, I have been greatly helped by many
people. My researches are now almost concluded and it is hoped
that they will later be made available in full but in the meantime, in
this Annual Report for 1957, 300 years after Harvey died, the following
may be briefly stated as a modest contribution to mark the
occasion.
William Harvey died in the house of his brother in Roehampton
on 3rd June, 1657. The house was a substantial mansion situated in
extensive grounds which are now owned and occupied by the Convent
of the Sacred Heart in Roehampton Lane in Roehampton in
this Borough. The house was burnt down about 1796 and its site is
now partly covered by other buildings.
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