caption doctoral_advisor death_date death_place birth_place image_size nationality field birth_date known_for signature image article_title name
william harvey hieronymus fabricius 3 june 1657 roehampton , london , england folkestone , england 260px english medicine anatomy 1 april 1578 systemic circulation william harvey signature.svg william harvey 2.jpg william harvey
 william harvey
william harvey

william harvey -lrb- 1 april 1578 -- 3 june 1657 -rrb- was an english physician .
he was the first known to describe completely and in detail the systemic circulation and properties of blood being pumped to the brain and body by the heart , though earlier writers , such as jacques dubois , had provided precursors of the theory .
after his death the william harvey hospital was constructed in the town of ashford , several miles from his birthplace of folkestone .
