Henry Gray, a pioneer of modern descriptive and surgical anatomy, authored Anatomy of the Human Body. A precisely illustrated work, his book is as beautiful as it is practical, and is still highly valued as an authoritative text in the field of anatomy. Gray's Anatomy, as the publication has come to be commonly known, is a standard not only for students of medicine and anatomy, but also for artists striving to more closely represent the human form.

Gray was born in London, and lived his entire life in his family's home. His father's position as a royal messenger allowed him to secure professional training for Henry at Saint George's Hospital. There, Gray studied medicine, quickly gaining preference for research in anatomy rather than clinical practice. He was known for his highly developed dissection skills, gaining material for his future book and several essays through his research at Saint George. In 1848, Gray won a coveted prize from the Royal College of Surgeons for his anatomical work on the eye and optic nerves.

After completing his education, Gray remained at Saint George's Hospital, taking a position as a lecturer of anatomy. This permitted him to continue his research in surgical anatomy and also to pursue other interests, such as embryology. In 1852, he presented a paper on "The Glands of Chicks," an early example of the clear technical writing and attention to minute detail for which Gray's work was known. That same year, he was appointed Fellow of the Royal Society.

Gray's career work was compiled and published in 1858, after a decade of research. His Anatomy Descriptive and Surgical, as it was originally titled, was instantly recognized as a pioneering work. Gray collaborated with H. Vandyke Carter for the book's second edition in 1860. Carter illustrated the voluminous work, greatly enhancing both the book's utility and success. One of the first modern medical textbooks, it remains one of the most well known.

After the publication of Anatomy, Gray's career appeared to hold great promise. He was offered a position of Assistant Surgeon at Saint George. However, Gray's ever-present interest in his research led him to studying the anatomical effects of infectious diseases at the bedside of his ailing nephew. During his time with his nephew, Gray contracted smallpox and died in 1861, at the age of 34. He never assumed his new post.