William Shippen, October 1, 1712 – November 4, 1801,  was the leading anatomist in mid‑eighteenth century Philadelphia, and in 1762 he began offering lectures on anatomy in his home. He was an  physician from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was a civic and educational leader who represented Pennsylvania in the Continental Congress.   Shippen envisioned the growth of a full-scale medical school similar to the University of Edinburgh; however, it fell to a more dynamic individual to carry out this commendable mission.