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Edward Jenner

(1749-1823), Surgeon; discoverer of vaccination

Regency Portraits Catalogue Entry

Sitter in 11 portraits
A West Country surgeon, Jenner discovered vaccination against smallpox after testing the country lore that dairymaids, exposed to the mild cowpox virus, did not contract the killer disease. He published his findings in 1798, but it took ten years for the government to accept his discovery. Jenner campaigned vigorously, even encouraging the fashionable 'cowherd' poet Robert Bloomfield to write Good Tidings; or, News From the Farm (1804) to promote vaccination. By 1853 vaccination was compulsory in Britain and Jenner was posthumously considered a national hero.

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Edward Jenner, by James Northcote - NPG 62

Edward Jenner

by James Northcote
oil on canvas, 1803
On display in Room 16 on Floor 3 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 62

Men of Science Living in 1807-8, by Sir John Gilbert, and  Frederick John Skill, and  William Walker, and  Elizabeth Walker (née Reynolds) - NPG 1075

Men of Science Living in 1807-8

by Sir John Gilbert, and Frederick John Skill, and William Walker, and Elizabeth Walker (née Reynolds)
pencil and wash, 1858-1862
NPG 1075

Edward Jenner, after John Miers - NPG D16374

Edward Jenner

after John Miers
line and stipple engraving, late 18th or early 19th century
NPG D16374

Edward Jenner ('The cow pock - or - the wonderful effects of the new inoculation!'), by James Gillray, published by  Hannah Humphrey - NPG D13037

Edward Jenner ('The cow pock - or - the wonderful effects of the new inoculation!')

by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching and soft-ground etching, published 12 June 1802
NPG D13037

Edward Jenner, by William Say, published by  Thomas Palser, after  James Northcote - NPG D19467

Edward Jenner

by William Say, published by Thomas Palser, after James Northcote
mezzotint, published 20 August 1804
NPG D19467

Edward Jenner, by Maxim Gauci, printed and published by  N. Chater & Co, printed and published by  Washbourn & Son, after  Samuel Manning Sr - NPG D36504

Edward Jenner

by Maxim Gauci, printed and published by N. Chater & Co, printed and published by Washbourn & Son, after Samuel Manning Sr
lithograph, published 10 August 1823
NPG D36504

Edward Jenner, by James Henry Lynch, printed by  Kell Brothers, published by  Charles Heald Thomas, after  Sir Thomas Lawrence - NPG D21545

Edward Jenner

by James Henry Lynch, printed by Kell Brothers, published by Charles Heald Thomas, after Sir Thomas Lawrence
lithograph, circa 1827 (circa 1809)
NPG D21545

Edward Jenner, by Richard James Lane, printed by  Charles Joseph Hullmandel, published by  Henry Colburn, after  Henry Corbould - NPG D9093

Edward Jenner

by Richard James Lane, printed by Charles Joseph Hullmandel, published by Henry Colburn, after Henry Corbould
lithograph, published March 1827
NPG D9093

Edward Jenner, published by Illustrated London News, after  M.E. Paul - NPG D9007

Edward Jenner

published by Illustrated London News, after M.E. Paul
wood engraving, published 30 September 1865 (11 September 1865)
NPG D9007

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