James Parkinson, born on April 11, 1755, in London, England, was a significant figure in both the medical and political spheres. He was a physician, geologist, paleontologist, and political activist.
Most notably, Parkinson is remembered for his work in neurology. In 1817, he published a detailed medical essay titled "An Essay on the Shaking Palsy," where he described what we now call Parkinson's Disease. His work laid the groundwork for future research into this condition, although the disease was not officially named after him until much later.
Beyond his medical career, Parkinson was actively involved in political reform. He was a member of the London Corresponding Society, which campaigned for radical political reform, including universal suffrage and annual parliaments. His involvement led to him being a target for government scrutiny, and he narrowly avoided arrest during a crackdown on the society in 1794.
Parkinson also had a keen interest in geology and paleontology. He published several works on fossils, including "Organic Remains of a Former World" in 1804, which discussed geological time and the evidence of extinct species. His geological work was recognized by his peers, and he was elected a fellow of the Geological Society of London in 1807.