Angina pectoris was named and accurately described by Heberden in 1772, but coronary thrombosis was only formally recognized as the cause of acute myocardial infarction by Herrick at the beginning of the 20th century. Diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction was facilitated by the ECG findings noted by Pardee, Parkinson, and Bedford. No effective treatment (other than bed rest) was available until the development of defibrillation and closed chest cardiac resuscitation by Zoll and Kouwenhoven in the 1950s. Since then, mortality has been greatly reduced by the use of antiplatelet and antithrombotic drug therapies as well as fibrinolysis and angioplasty. Prevention through reduction in risk factors and secondary prevention with drugs has proven to be extremely effective and will doubtless further contribute to reducing mortality in coming decades...