Jonathan Richardson, Lady Mary Wortley Montagu

Lady Mary Wortley Montagu (1689-1762) was a traveller, writer, and medical pioneer who introduced the idea of smallpox inoculation to England.

Lady Mary was herself a victim of smallpox, although the scars were never shown in her portraits. While she was living in Turkey she had her son Edward vaccinated against the disease. When she returned to England in 1719 she encouraged the practice of smallpox inoculation. Her advocacy for inoculation laid groundwork to the development of the vaccination process, which has become so important to us today.