From: anonymous
Date: Thu, 22 Jan 2004
Manuel Garcia is known as the father of laryngology (pertaining to medicine and surgery for the voice box). Garcia was a Professor of Singing in London and in 1855 created a mirror which permitted him to see his own voice box, something which ultimately gave rise to a whole branch of surgery (ENT). He lived to 102 years old and in 1905 was honored on his 100th birthday by representatives of kings, queens and the foremost otolaryngologists from around the world. He received an honorary medical degree, was invested in the Royal Victorian Order by the King of England, the Royal Order of Alphones XII and the Great Gold Medal for Science (from Germany).
I neglected to respond to your question. Manuel Garcia is considered the Father of Laryngology, though his story is better known to otolaryngologists (ear nose and throat doctors) than to my colleagues. The story is an interesting one ( . . .) He was not only a voice instructor, but an accomplished vocalist and the father of three opera singers.