Edward Jenner

Edward Jenner was an English physician in the late 18th century, best known for developing the first successful smallpox vaccine. He observed that milkmaids who had contracted cowpox, a less severe illness, seemed immune to smallpox. In 1796, he tested his hypothesis by inoculating a young boy with cowpox and later exposing him to smallpox, finding that the boy did not get sick. This groundbreaking work laid the foundation for immunology and vaccination, significantly reducing smallpox cases and ultimately leading to the disease's eradication in 1980, showcasing the power of vaccination in protecting public health.