Edward Jenner holograph letters to Charles Murray, Secretary to the National Vaccine Establishment
Collection
Identifier: 10a 142
Scope and Contents
This collection contains 17 letters from Edward Jenner to Charles Murray, the Secretary of the National Vaccine Establishment in England. The letters discuss ongoing efforts to gain support for vaccination against smallpox, affairs of the National Vaccine Establishment, and vaccination news, including notable remarks and publications on inoculation and vaccination. The letters also mention the Royal Jennerian Society, the London Vaccination Institute, and the French Vaccine Committee.
Dates
- 1806-1817
Creator
- Jenner, Edward (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Biographical / Historical
Edward Jenner (1749-1823) was an English physician and scientist and the creator of the smallpox vaccine.
Edward Jenner was born on 17 May 1749. From the age of 14 he was apprenticed to a surgeon where he gained most of his medical knowledge. He later completed his medical training under John Hunter in St. George's Hospital in London before returning to Berkeley in 1772 and establishing his own medical practice.
In 1796 Jenner conducted his first experimental vaccination, infecting eight-year-old James Phipps with cow pox and subsequently testing his immunity to smallpox. In 1798 he published his research in An Inquiry into the Causes and Effects of the Variolae Vaccinae; a Disease Discovered in some of the Western Counties of England, Particularly Gloucestershire, and Known by the Name of The Cow Pox. He continued his research and published additional results that confirmed his initial findings that cowpox protects against smallpox.
Edward Jenner spent much of the rest of his life devoted to vaccination, supplying cowpox material to others around the world and discussing related scientific matters. He developed techniques to obtain material from human cowpox pocks and dry it for easy transport. In 1802 the British government awarded Jenner £10,000 for recognition of his work and to compensate him for the time the vaccine work took away from his general medical practice. The government awarded him an additional £20,000 in 1807.
In 1803 Jenner became president of the Jennerian Society in London, which was concerned with promoting vaccination to eradicate smallpox. He became a member of the Medical and Chirurgical Society (now the Royal Society of Medicine) in 1805 and presented several papers there. The National Vaccine Establishment was created in 1808 with government aid to promote Jenner’s discovery of smallpox vaccination.
Jenner gradually withdrew from public life to return to the practice of country medicine in Berkeley. In 1820 he had a stroke, from which he recovered. In January 1823 he died of an apparent stroke at 73 years old.
Edward Jenner was born on 17 May 1749. From the age of 14 he was apprenticed to a surgeon where he gained most of his medical knowledge. He later completed his medical training under John Hunter in St. George's Hospital in London before returning to Berkeley in 1772 and establishing his own medical practice.
In 1796 Jenner conducted his first experimental vaccination, infecting eight-year-old James Phipps with cow pox and subsequently testing his immunity to smallpox. In 1798 he published his research in An Inquiry into the Causes and Effects of the Variolae Vaccinae; a Disease Discovered in some of the Western Counties of England, Particularly Gloucestershire, and Known by the Name of The Cow Pox. He continued his research and published additional results that confirmed his initial findings that cowpox protects against smallpox.
Edward Jenner spent much of the rest of his life devoted to vaccination, supplying cowpox material to others around the world and discussing related scientific matters. He developed techniques to obtain material from human cowpox pocks and dry it for easy transport. In 1802 the British government awarded Jenner £10,000 for recognition of his work and to compensate him for the time the vaccine work took away from his general medical practice. The government awarded him an additional £20,000 in 1807.
In 1803 Jenner became president of the Jennerian Society in London, which was concerned with promoting vaccination to eradicate smallpox. He became a member of the Medical and Chirurgical Society (now the Royal Society of Medicine) in 1805 and presented several papers there. The National Vaccine Establishment was created in 1808 with government aid to promote Jenner’s discovery of smallpox vaccination.
Jenner gradually withdrew from public life to return to the practice of country medicine in Berkeley. In 1820 he had a stroke, from which he recovered. In January 1823 he died of an apparent stroke at 73 years old.
Extent
0.08 Linear feet (1 volume)
Language of Materials
English
Creator
- Jenner, Edward (Person)
- Title
- Edward Jenner holograph letters to Charles Murray, Secretary to the National Vaccine Establishment
- Author
- Rayna Andrews
- Date
- 2026 April 17
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Sponsor
- Conservation and digitization of this collection was supported by a Federal Save America's Treasures grant administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
Repository Details
Part of the Historical Medical Library of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia Repository
Contact:
19 S. 22nd Street
Philadelphia PA 19103 United States
19 S. 22nd Street
Philadelphia PA 19103 United States
