Stephen HalesStephen Hales (17 September 1677 – 4 January 1761) was an English clergyman who made significant contributions to botany, pneumatic chemistry, and physiology. He was the first to take blood pressure readings. He also designed a ventilator, a pneumatic trough, and a surgical forceps for the removal of bladder stones. Aside from these accomplishments, he was a philanthropist and author of a popular book against alcoholic intemperance. Stephen Hales was born in the English town of Bekesbourne in the county of Kent. He was the sixth son of Thomas Hales, heir to the Baronetcy of Beakesbourne and Brymore, and Mary (née Wood), and one of twelve or thirteen children. Sir Robert Hales' grandson, Sir Thomas Hales, 2nd Baronet (Stephen Hales' brother), ascended to the baronetcy in December 1693 since Thomas Hales (died 1692) survived his father, Sir Robert Hales. Hales was schooled in Kensington and Orpington before enrolling at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge (or St Benedict's as it was known at the time) in 1696. Despite the fact that he was a divinity ordinand, hales would have obtained his degree in Classics, mathematics, natural sciences, and philosophy while at Cambridge. Read More Read Less