Charles Scott Sherrington was born in London, England, on November 27, 1857. His father, who died while Sherrington was still young, was a physician, as was his step-father, who encouraged him to pursue a medical career. Sherrington studied at the Royal College of Surgeons, St. Thomas' Hospital in London, and Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, before earning his medical degree from Cambridge in 1885. In the first years after receiving his degree, Sherrington traveled a number of times to Europe, investigating the effects of cholera epidemics and studying with Rudolph Virchow, Heinrich Hermann, and Robert Koch in Germany. While in Spain, he also became familiar with the work of Santiago Ramón y Cajal. As a result of these experiences, Sherrington became more interested in the study of pathology, physiology, and neurophysiology. Upon his return from Europe, Sherrington assumed the post of Professor of Physiology at the University of London...