Born in Hanau, Germany, in 1614, Franciscus (Dele Boë) Sylvius received hismedical doctor diploma from Basel University in 1637 and became Professor ofPractical Medicine at Leiden University in 1658. One of the founders ofmedical biochemistry, Sylvius was also an outstanding anatomopathologist,with contributions ranging from the first description of the pulmonarytubercles to that of the lateral fissure of the brain. Thanks to Sylvius, agifted teacher and one of the greatest physicians of his time, Leiden becamea major European medical training center. He died in 1772 after havingserved as Rector Magnificus at Leiden University.