folio engraving of William Harvey, titled at the bottom 'Bemmel pinx, In the collection of Dr. Mead, Impensis J & F Knapton London 1739, J Houbraken sculps. Amst 1739, and a similar with trimmed edges on card

William Harvey (1 April 1578 – 3 June 1657) was an English physician known for his significant contributions to the fields of anatomy and physiology. Notably, he holds the distinction of being the earliest documented medical professional to comprehensively and meticulously elucidate the process of systemic circulation. Harvey's pioneering work expounded upon the dynamics of blood circulation, encompassing its circulation from the heart to the brain and throughout the entire body.