The New Student's Reference Work/Jenner, Edward

Jen′ner, Edward, the discoverer of vaccination, was born at Berkeley, England, May 17, 1749. He went to London in his 21st year and studied under the celebrated John Hunter. The discovery which has made Jenner famous was the result of a long series of experiments. His attention was attracted to the nature of cowpox by a young woman who had remarked: “I cannot take the smallpox, for I have had the cowpox.” Many investigations delayed the discovery for 16 years, when, at length, the final experiment was made on May 14, 1796, on James Phipps, who was vaccinated with perfect success. The practice met with great opposition at first; but finally honors were showered upon Jenner, and he was elected a member of all the learned societies of Europe. He died of apoplexy at Berkeley on Jan. 26, 1823. See his Life and Correspondence by Dr. J. Baron.