Thomas Dimsdale

Baron
Thomas Dimsdale
Born (1712-05-29)May 29, 1712
Died December 30, 1800(1800-12-30) (aged 88)
Nationality British
Occupation Physician, politician, banker
Notable work The present method of inoculating for the small-pox

Baron Thomas Dimsdale (1712–1800) was an English MP, physician and banker.[1]

Dimsdale had a particular interest in the prevention of smallpox by inoculation (variolation), infection via the skin, which usually produced a mild but protective effect. He published The present method of inoculating for the small-pox in 1767 [2] which went into five editions by 1769. In 1768, perhaps due to his prominence in London society, he was invited to St Petersburg to variolate the Empress Catherine the Great of Russia. In 1769, Dimsdale variolated the Empress, her son Grand Duke Paul and over 140 members of the Court. The results were a success. Catherine rewarded Dimsdale with £10,000, a pension of £500 per annum, and £2000 expenses.[3] She also created him a Baron of the Empire. Dimsdale's son, who accompanied him, was also rewarded. In case the results had produced adverse effects, the Empress had arranged for a relay of fast horses to be available to speed the Dimsdales out of the country.[4] During the long preparatory period before the variolations he wrote Tracts on inoculation written and published at St Petersburg in the year 1768.

Dimsdale was elected as MP for Hertford in two successive parliaments.[5] He Lived in Bengeo, Hertfordshire.[6]

References

  1. ↑ "DIMSDALE, Thomas (1712-1800), of The Priory, Hertford". historyofparliamentonline.org.
  2. ↑ Dimsdale, Thomas (1769). "The present method of inoculating for the small-pox: To which are added, some experiments, instituted with a view to discover the effects of a similar treatment in the natural small-pox".
  3. ↑ "What Thomas Dimsdale, arguably the world’s first biotech entrepreneur, tells us about drug pricing". drugbaron.com. 15 April 2014. Archived from the original on 15 August 2015. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  4. ↑ Hopkins, Donald R. (2002). The Greatest Killer; smallpox in history. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. pp. 66–69.
  5. ↑ "A Genealogical and Heraldic Dictionary of the Peerage and Baronetage of the British Empire". 1839.
  6. ↑ http://heritagearchives.rbs.com/wiki/Thomas_Dimsdale
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