Edward Jenner

Born 1749

Jenner's discovery saves millions of lives.

• 1796 CE

  Smallpox vaccine

  Jenner's discovery saves millions of lives.

• 1796 CE

  Jenner develops smallpox vaccine

  Edward Jenner demonstrates that cowpox inoculation prevents smallpox, founding immunology. Vaccination would ultimately eradicate smallpox by 1980—the first human disease deliberately eliminated.