Waterhouse, Benjamin (1754–1846)

US physician and vaccination pioneer. Following the latest claims by Edward Jenner, he imported cowpox vaccine for his son and a servant boy in 1799; the servant boy was then inoculated with smallpox and survived. Waterhouse continued vaccinating with success, but in the rush to follow him, others administered impure vaccine and some people died; there was a backlash against him but he was cleared by a committee of physicians in 1802. Stressing the necessity of pure vaccine, he continued to promote vaccination and was instrumental in its success in the USA.

Waterhouse was born in Newport, Rhode Island. One of the best-educated US physicians of his time, he studied in Europe for seven years before joining the new Harvard Medical Department in 1783. After differences with colleagues at the Harvard Medical School turned bitter, he was forced to resign in 1812 and he spent several years (1813–20) as superintendent of army posts in New England. In later years he traced the cause of moral decline in youth to intemperance.