Edward Jenner is remembered today as a scientist who fought valiantly to defeat the scourge of small-pox. He worked for 20 years to invent a vaccine that prevented people from contracting the dreaded disease.
Boyhood
As a boy Jenner loved to live in the countryside listening to bird music and walking along the roads observing the beauty of nature. He knew every plant by the roadside.
Medical studies
With his rural background he wanted to be a doctor. He began his medical studies under Dr. Daniel Ludlow who was a surgeon. There was a local belief that if a man had the disease known as cow-pox, he would not contract small-pox. Jenner wanted to verify whether it was true.
He made inquiries from his medical colleagues but did not receive much help. Even many doctors believed it was a myth.
Not satisfied with such explanations, Jenner proceeded to London to study under the celebrated physician John Hunter.
In 1780, Jenner discovered that a certain form of cow-pox acted as a defence against small-pox. On May 11, 1796 he inoculated a boy with cow-pox vaccine. On July 1 in the same year, he inoculated the boy with small-pox germs. As expected, the boy escaped contracting the small-pox.
Free vaccine
Although he could have made a huge amount of money by selling the secret, Jenner decided to give it to the world free. In the meantime he had to face the wrath of conservative medical men who regarded vaccination as a dangerous practice. Jenner offered free vaccination to the poor. In 1806, Parliament decided to pay him 20,000 sterling pounds.
With that money he founded the National Vaccine Institution.
On January 4, 1823 Edward Jenner died in his library stricken with apoplexy.