Harvey, William, 1578-1657; Physicians -- England -- Biography
Harvey was certainly in England on the 26th of March, 1632, for on
that day he drew up a set of rules for the Library of the College of
Physicians, towards a site for which he had subscribed £100 on the 22nd
of December, 1630. The necessity for a new set of rules to govern the
use of the Library seems to have been due to an important bequest of
680 volumes presented by Dr. Holsbosch, a graduate in medicine, and a
German who had practised surgery and physic in England for fifty years,
though he had not attached himself to the College. The new regulations
laid down that the key of the room was to remain in the keeping of the
President, whilst the key of the book-cases was kept by the Senior
Censor. The Library was to be open on all College days to the Fellows,
Candidates, and Licentiates; but no book was to be taken away from the
College without leave from the President and Censor and the deposit
of a "sufficient caution" for its value. Harvey was also present at
a meeting of the College of Physicians on the last day of May, 1632,
when he signed a petition to the King, praying him to limit the sale of
certain poisons unless the purchaser was willing to give his name.
There is no record of the exact date at which Harvey was made
Physician in Ordinary to the King Charles I., though the time is
fixed approximately by the following extract from the minutes at St.
Bartholomew's Hospital:--
"Monday 25 April 1631 at a Court [of Governors]
held in the Mansion house in the presence of
Sir Robert Ducy Lord Mayor, President.
"DR. ANDREWES
"It is granted that Richard Andrewes Doctor of Physic shall have
the reversion, next avoidance and place of physician to this
hospital after the death, resignation or other departure of Doctor
Harvey now physician to this hospital late sworn Physician in
Ordinary for his Majesty's Household, with the yearly stipend
thereunto now belonging."
The actual date of his appointment seems to have been at some time
during the quarter ending Lady Day, 1630, for the Calendar of State
Papers (Domestic Series) contains the record, "3 July 1635. To William
Harvey, one of his Majesty's physicians in ordinary, his annuity for a
year ending at Our Lady Day 1631 £300." And again on the 17th of July,
1635, "Dr. William Harvey £25;" and a few months later, on the 5th of
February, 1635-1636--"Dr. William Harvey upon his annuity of £300 per
annum £150." These entries also make it appear that although his salary
amounted to the considerable sum of £300 a year, it was paid very
irregularly and by small instalments.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account