Charles Singer

Born on November 2, 1876, Charles Joseph Singer was a British historian of science, technology, and medicine. He trained in medicine before becoming one of the key figures in making the history of science a distinct area of study.

Singer wrote widely on subjects ranging from ancient and medieval medicine to the development of scientific thought and technical knowledge. His work is especially remembered for its breadth: he was interested not only in great discoveries, but also in how medicine, tools, learning, and society shaped one another across time.

He died on June 10, 1960. Along with his own scholarship, his long career helped establish the history of science and medicine as fields that could be studied in a serious, connected, and accessible way.