The Lancet is a peer-reviewed general medical journal, published weekly. It is one of the world's best-known, oldest, and most respected general medical journals,.[1] With editorial offices in London and New York, The Lancet was founded in 1823 by Thomas Wakley, who named it after the surgical instrument called a lancet, as well as an arched window ("to let in light"). Since 1991 The Lancet is owned by Elsevier, a part of Reed Elsevier.