The American Cyclopædia (1879)/Dimsdale, Thomas

DIMSDALE, Thomas, an English physician, born at Thoydon-Garnon, Essex, in 1712, died in Hertford, Dec. 30, 1800. He was noted for his zeal in promoting inoculation for the smallpox, and was invited to Russia by Catharine II. in 1768, for the purpose of inoculating herself and her son. He afterward visited Frederick II. of Prussia at Sans-Souci, and then returned to England, where in 1776 he published a treatise on inoculation, which was translated into all the European languages. In 1780 he was elected to the house of commons, and in 1781 made a second professional visit to Russia. He also published several pamphlets on inoculation.