Walter Needham facts for kids

Walter Needham (born around 1631, died 1691) was an important English doctor. He was especially known for studying the human body, a field called anatomy. He made significant discoveries and wrote books about his findings.

Walter Needham's Early Life and Education

Walter Needham grew up in Shropshire, England. He was a very bright student. He earned a special scholarship to attend Westminster School. After that, he went to Trinity College, Cambridge, in 1650. He earned his first degree in 1654. In 1655, he became a Fellow at Queens' College.

At Trinity College in the 1650s, Walter was part of a science group. This group included other famous thinkers like Isaac Barrow and John Ray. After college, he worked as a doctor in Shropshire for a short time in 1659.

Becoming a Doctor and Royal Connections

In 1660, Needham moved to Oxford. There, he attended lectures by famous doctors like Thomas Willis. He also met Anthony Wood, a well-known historian. Walter connected with some of the people who helped start the Royal Society. This was a very important group for science.

He later returned to Cambridge. In 1664, he earned his advanced medical degree, becoming a Doctor of Physic. The same year, he became an honorary member of the College of Physicians of London. Walter Needham was a very busy doctor and had many patients.

In 1667, he became a full member of the Royal Society. In 1672, he was chosen to be the doctor for Sutton's Charity. This was a special school and almshouse called the London Charterhouse. He continued to practice medicine in London.

Walter Needham passed away on April 5, 1691. He was buried in a church in London called St. Giles-in-the-Fields.

Walter Needham's Important Discoveries

Walter Needham wrote an important book called Disquisitio anatomica de formato Fœtu. This book was approved for printing in 1667. It was dedicated to Robert Boyle, a famous scientist. The book was later reprinted in Amsterdam.

What Was His Book About?

Needham's book focused on the placenta in humans and animals. The placenta is an organ that connects a developing baby to its mother. His book was written in Latin. It was one of the first books to talk about chemical experiments on embryos. Embryos are very early stages of development for living things. The book also gave instructions on how to dissect, or carefully examine, these tiny developing creatures.

Other Scientific Work

In 1673, Walter Needham presented a paper to the Royal Society. This paper shared the results of experiments he did with Richard Wiseman. Their work looked at a new liquid that could help stop bleeding from arteries. Arteries are blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart.