Stephen Hales

Stephen Hales, FRS, DD (17 September 1677 – 4 January 1761) was an English clergyman who made major contributions to a range of scientific fields including botany, pneumatic chemistry and physiology. He was the first person to measure blood pressure. He also invented several devices, including a ventilator, a pneumatic trough and a surgical forceps for the removal of bladder stones. In addition to these achievements was a philanthropist and wrote a popular tract on alcoholic intemperance.

Life

Stephen Hales was born in 1677 in Bekesbourne, Kent, England. He was the sixth son of Thomas Hales, heir to Baronetcy of Beakesbourne and Brymore, and his wife, Mary (née Marsham), and was one of twelve or possibly thirteen children. Thomas Hales predeceased his father, Sir Robert Hales, and his first son Sir Thomas Hales, 2nd Baronet (Stephen Hales' brother) therefore succeeded to the baronetcy in December 1693.

Hales was educated in Kensington and then at Orpington before attending Corpus Christi College, Cambridge (or St Benedict's as it was then known) in 1696. Although he was an ordinand studying divinity, Hales would have received tuition in the Classics, mathematics, natural sciences and philosophy while in Cambridge. Hales was admitted as a Fellow of Corpus Christi in 1703, the same year as he obtained the degree of Master of Arts, and was ordained as Deacon at Bugden, Cambridgeshire. He continued his theological and other studies in Cambridge, where he became friends with William Stukeley who was studying medicine. He attended chemistry lectures by Giovanni Francisco Vigani while at Cambridge. His interest in biology, botany and physiology is presumed to date from that time.

Stephen Hales (MP for Norfolk)

Sir Stephen Hales (before 1331-1394/5), of Testerton, Norfolk, was an English soldier and politician.

Hales was born the son and heir of William Hales of Testerton and was knighted at some point before November 1372.

He took part in military campaigns in the wars with France. After being blooded in a sea battle against the Spanish off Winchelsea in 1350, he joined the army of the Black Prince in Gascony from 1355 to 1357. He was present when Edward III’s forces approached Paris in the spring of 1360 and fought at the Battle of Nájera under the Black Prince in 1367.

Hales was elected a Member of Parliament for Norfolk January 1377, January 1380, 1381, May 1382, October 1382, Feb. 1383, October 1383, November 1384 and 1386. He was a Justice of the Peace for Norfolk from 1380 to his death and was appointed High Sheriff of Norfolk and Suffolk for 1378–1379.

He married Joan, who was probably the daughter of John Novers of Swanton Novers, Norfolk. They had no children and was thus succeeded by his brother Thomas.

Stephen Hales (disambiguation)

Stephen Hales (1677-1761) was a clergyman and scientist.

Stephen Hales may also refer to:

See also

Stephen Hales (died 1574)

Stephen Hales (died 1574) was an English politician.

He was a Member (MP) of the Parliament of England for Great Bedwyn in 1563 and Leicester in 1571.

References

Hales

Coordinates: 52°31′19″N 1°30′33″E / 52.521861°N 1.509247°E / 52.521861; 1.509247

Hales is a small village in Norfolk, England. It covers an area of 3.99 km² (1.54 sq mi) and had a population of 479 in 192 households as of the 2001 census, reducing to 469 at the 2011 census.

Church of St Margaret

The Church of Hales St Margaret is one of 124 existing round-tower churches in Norfolk. With its thatched roof, this church probably comes closest to the original appearance of an early round-tower church. It is in care of the Churches Conservation Trust, and is a Grade I listed building.

Transport

X2 goes from Norwich in the west to Lowestoft in the east.

Nearest places

See also

References

External links

Media related to Hales at Wikimedia Commons

Hales (king)

Hales or Chales (fl. 376–375 BC) was the king of the Triballi, a Thracian tribe that inhabited the region between West Morava and South Morava ("Angros" and "Brongos") rivers, called the "Triballian field" (πεδίον τὸ Τριβαλλικὸν) in what is today south-eastern Serbia.

In 376 BC, he led the Triballian army of 30,000 warriors and crossed Mount Haemus and the Sofia plain, followed the valley of the Strymon river and advanced as far as Abdera. His forces had nearly destroying the city before Chabrias, an Athenian general, was able to negotiate a peace between the Triballi and the king of Maronea, in the process winning over the Triballi to the Athenian side.

References

Sources

Hales (surname)

Hales is a surname. Notable people with the surname include