Thomas Lewis (cardiologist)
Encyclopedia
Sir Thomas Lewis, CBE
, FRS (26 December 1881, Cardiff
, Wales
– 17 March 1945, Rickmansworth
, Hertfordshire
) was a British cardiologist. He qualified as a doctor and worked as a physiologist and clinical scientist
, carrying out fundamental research on the heart. Lewis corresponded with the Dutch physiologist Willem Einthoven
from 1906, concerning Einthoven's invention of electrocardiography, and Lewis pioneered its use in clinical settings. Accordingly, Lewis is considered the "father of clinical cardiac electrophysiology". He began using the new technology in 1908. In 1909, with James MacKenzie
, he founded the journal Heart: A Journal for the Study of the Circulation, which was later renamed Clinical Science
. In 1913, he published the book Clinical Electrocardiography, the first treaty on electrocardiography. Lewis was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society
in 1918. He was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire
(CBE) in 1920, and made a Knight Bachelor
the following year (1921). He was awarded the Royal Society's Royal Medal
in 1927: "For his researches on the vascular system, following upon his earlier work on the mammalian heart-beat." In 1930, he founded the Medical Research Society. He was awarded the Royal Society's Copley Medal
in 1941: "For his clinical and experimental investigations upon the mammalian heart.". He served as Vice-President of the Royal Society from 1943 to 1945.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, FRS (26 December 1881, Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
– 17 March 1945, Rickmansworth
Rickmansworth
Rickmansworth is a town in the Three Rivers district of Hertfordshire, England, 4¼ miles west of Watford.The town has a population of around 15,000 people and lies on the Grand Union Canal and the River Colne, at the northern end of the Colne Valley regional park.Rickmansworth is a small town in...
, Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
) was a British cardiologist. He qualified as a doctor and worked as a physiologist and clinical scientist
Clinical scientist
This term is frequently used to denote :* A biomedical scientist or* A clinical laboratory scientist- See also :* Clinical pathologist* Clinical biologist* Medical laboratory...
, carrying out fundamental research on the heart. Lewis corresponded with the Dutch physiologist Willem Einthoven
Willem Einthoven
Willem Einthoven was a Dutch doctor and physiologist. He invented the first practical electrocardiogram in 1903 and received the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1924 for it....
from 1906, concerning Einthoven's invention of electrocardiography, and Lewis pioneered its use in clinical settings. Accordingly, Lewis is considered the "father of clinical cardiac electrophysiology". He began using the new technology in 1908. In 1909, with James MacKenzie
Sir James Mackenzie
Sir James Mackenzie FRS was a Scottish cardiologist, pioneer in the study of cardiac arrhythmias.-Biography:James Mackenzie was born in Scone, where his father was a farmer...
, he founded the journal Heart: A Journal for the Study of the Circulation, which was later renamed Clinical Science
Clinical Science (journal)
Clinical Science is a peer-reviewed medical journal that covers all areas of clinical investigation, with a focus on translational science and medicine...
. In 1913, he published the book Clinical Electrocardiography, the first treaty on electrocardiography. Lewis was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
in 1918. He was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(CBE) in 1920, and made a Knight Bachelor
Knight Bachelor
The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
the following year (1921). He was awarded the Royal Society's Royal Medal
Royal Medal
The Royal Medal, also known as The Queen's Medal, is a silver-gilt medal awarded each year by the Royal Society, two for "the most important contributions to the advancement of natural knowledge" and one for "distinguished contributions in the applied sciences" made within the Commonwealth of...
in 1927: "For his researches on the vascular system, following upon his earlier work on the mammalian heart-beat." In 1930, he founded the Medical Research Society. He was awarded the Royal Society's Copley Medal
Copley Medal
The Copley Medal is an award given by the Royal Society of London for "outstanding achievements in research in any branch of science, and alternates between the physical sciences and the biological sciences"...
in 1941: "For his clinical and experimental investigations upon the mammalian heart.". He served as Vice-President of the Royal Society from 1943 to 1945.