Clopton Havers

Clopton Havers (24 February 1657 – April 1702) was an English physician who did pioneering research on the microstructure of bone. He is believed to have been the first person to observe and almost certainly the first to describe what are now called Haversian canals and Sharpey's fibres.

Early life Havers was born in Stambourne, Essex, the son of Henry Havers, Rector of Stambourne.

Career Havers practiced medicine in London, and was particularly interested in osteology, the study of bones. He was admitted a Fellow of the Royal Society on 15 December 1686. Notably, he described Haversian canals, which bear his name. He also described Sharpey's fibres.

In February 1700, Havers reported to the Royal Society on a Chinese practice of smallpox inoculation, which involved inhaling dried matter from a smallpox pustule.

Later life Havers married Dorcas Fuller, daughter of Thomas Fuller, the Rector of Willingale, Essex. His funeral sermon, dedicated to his widow, was preached by Lilly Butler, minister of St Mary Aldermanbury, and was later printed in quarto.

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