author
Thomas Dimsdale
1712–1800
An English doctor who became famous for his work on smallpox inoculation, he is best remembered for treating Catherine the Great of Russia during a terrifying outbreak. His career also stretched into banking and Parliament, making his life far more varied than most physicians of his time.
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About the author
Born in Essex in 1712 and raised in a Quaker family, Thomas Dimsdale trained in medicine and went on to practice in Hertford. He built a strong reputation as a specialist in smallpox inoculation at a time when the disease was one of the greatest fears in Europe.
His best-known achievement came in 1768, when Catherine the Great invited him to Russia after reading his work on inoculation. Dimsdale inoculated both the empress and her son, Grand Duke Paul, and their successful treatment helped encourage wider acceptance of the practice. In recognition, he was made a baron of the Russian Empire.
Dimsdale's life did not stay within medicine alone. He was also involved in banking, was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society, and later served as a Member of Parliament. He died in 1800, remembered as one of the early physicians who helped pave the way for better protection against smallpox.