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Death of Franklin's Son
In 1736, Benjamin Franklin lost his son, Francis Franklin, of just 4 years old. He described how he regretted not getting him inoculated, blaming Francis' death on himself. -
Edward Jenner is Born
Edward Jenner, the pioneer of vaccines, is born. -
John Adams is Inoculated
As the idea of inoculation became more popular, John Adams, who eventually became the president, was inoculated by Dr. Nathaniel Perkins. -
Protection by Cowpox
Edward Jenner learned from a milkmaid that she though herself protected from small pox because she had previously contracted cow pox. He later used this information for the development of his hypothesis. -
Inoculation in the Army
George Washington ordered mandatory inoculation for all soldiers who had not already contracted smallpox. -
The Breakthrough of Vaccines
Edward Jenner tests his hypothesis that inoculation of cowpox could prevent someone from getting smallpox. He tested on a boy named James Phipps, who made a full recovery. His hypothesis was correct, and he successfully vaccinated over 22 other people.
