Harrison Allen

Who was Harrison Allen?

Harrison Allen was an American physician and anatomist, born in Philadelphia. He graduated at the University of Pennsylvania in 1861, and in 1862 became a surgeon in the United States Army and served until the conclusion of the Civil War in 1865. Doctor Allen should not be confused with the Union Army officer who was colonel of the 151st Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Regiment, who was mustered out July 31, 1863 and later was awarded the grade of brevet brigadier general.

In 1865 he was made professor of comparative anatomy and medical zoölogy at the University of Pennsylvania. He was transferred in 1878 to the chair of physiology, which he occupied until 1895.

In addition to many papers contributed to medical journals, he authored a number of books:

Outlines of Comparative Anatomy and Medical Zoölogy

Studies in the Facial Region

An Analysis of the Life Form in Art

System of Human Anatomy