William Heberden the Younger

William Heberden the Younger (1767–1845) was a British physician and medical writer. He was the son of William Heberden, who is often referred to as "the Elder" to distinguish him from his son. Heberden the Younger is best known for his work on chickenpox and smallpox, and for his descriptions of the symptoms of angina pectoris.

Early life and education

Heberden was born in London in 1767, the son of William Heberden the Elder, a prominent physician. He studied medicine at St John's College, Cambridge, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Medicine degree in 1788.

Career

After completing his studies, Heberden practiced medicine in London. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1791. Heberden is best known for his work on chickenpox and smallpox. He was the first to distinguish between the two diseases, which were often confused at the time. He also described the symptoms of angina pectoris in detail, following on from the work of his father.

Later life and death

Heberden retired from practice in 1823 and died in 1845.

Works

Heberden's most notable works include:

• Commentaries on the History and Cure of Diseases (1802)
• A Letter to Dr. Heberden on the Angina Pectoris (1809)

See also

• History of medicine
• History of smallpox
• History of chickenpox

External links

• William Heberden the Younger at Encyclopædia Britannica

William Heberden the Younger Resources
Latest articles Most recent articles Ongoing trials	Wikipedia