Sir William Jenner, 1st Baronet (30 January 181511 December 1898) was a significant English physician primarily known for having discovered the distinction between

typhus Typhus, also known as typhus fever, is a group of infectious diseases that include epidemic typhus, scrub typhus, and murine typhus. Common symptoms include fever, headache, and a rash. Typically these begin one to two weeks after exposu ...

and

typhoid Typhoid fever, also known simply as typhoid, is a disease caused by ''Salmonella enterica'' serotype Typhi bacteria, also called ''Salmonella'' Typhi. Symptoms vary from mild to severe, and usually begin six to 30 days after exposure. Often ther ...

Biography

Jenner was born at Chatham on 30 January 1815, and educated at

University College London University College London (Trade name, branded as UCL) is a Public university, public research university in London, England. It is a Member institutions of the University of London, member institution of the Federal university, federal Uni ...

. He became a Member of the Royal College of Surgeons of England (M.R.C.S.) in 1837, a

Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians The Royal College of Physicians of London, commonly referred to simply as the Royal College of Physicians (RCP), is a British professional membership body dedicated to improving the practice of medicine, chiefly through the accreditation of ph ...

(F.R.C.P.) in 1852, and in 1844 took the London M.D. In 1847, he began at the

London Fever Hospital The London Fever Hospital was a voluntary hospital financed from public donations in Liverpool Road in Islington, London. It was one of the first fever hospitals in the country. History Originally established with 15 beds in 1802 in Gray's Inn R ...

investigations into cases of continued fever which enabled him finally to make the distinction between typhus and typhoid on which his reputation as a

pathologist Pathology is the study of disease. The word ''pathology'' also refers to the study of disease in general, incorporating a wide range of biology research fields and medical practices. However, when used in the context of modern medical treatme ...

principally rests, publishing his book ''"On the Identity or Non-Identity of Typhoid and Typhus Fever"'' in 1850. In 1849, he was appointed professor of pathological anatomy at University College, and also assistant physician to

University College Hospital University College Hospital (UCH) is a teaching hospital in the Fitzrovia area of the London Borough of Camden, England. The hospital, which was founded as the North London Hospital in 1834, is closely associated with University College Lo ...

, where he afterwards became physician (1854–1876) and consulting physician (1879), besides holding similar appointments at other hospitals. He was also successively Holme Professor of Clinical Medicine and professor of the principles and practice of medicine at University College London. He was elected President of the Epidemiological Society in 1866–1868, of the Pathological Society in 1873–1875 and of the Clinical Society in 1875. He was president of the Royal College of Physicians from 1881 to 1888 where he had delivered the Goulstonian Lectures in 1853. He was elected a

Fellow of the Royal Society Fellowship of the Royal Society (FRS, ForMemRS and HonFRS) is an award granted by the Fellows of the Royal Society of London to individuals who have made a "substantial contribution to the improvement of natural science, natural knowledge, incl ...

(F.R.S.) in 1864 and received

honorary degree An honorary degree is an academic degree for which a university (or other degree-awarding institution) has waived all of the usual requirements. It is also known by the Latin phrases ''honoris causa'' ("for the sake of the honour") or '' ad hon ...

s from the

University of Oxford The University of Oxford is a collegiate university, collegiate research university in Oxford, England. There is evidence of teaching as early as 1096, making it the oldest university in the English-speaking world and the List of oldest un ...

University of Cambridge The University of Cambridge is a Public university, public collegiate university, collegiate research university in Cambridge, England. Founded in 1209, the University of Cambridge is the List of oldest universities in continuous operation, wo ...

, and

University of Edinburgh The University of Edinburgh (, ; abbreviated as ''Edin.'' in Post-nominal letters, post-nominals) is a Public university, public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Founded by the City of Edinburgh Council, town council under th ...

. In 1861, he was appointed Physician Extraordinary (Q.H.P.), and in 1862 Physician in Ordinary, to

Queen Victoria Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until Death and state funeral of Queen Victoria, her death in January 1901. Her reign of 63 year ...

, and in 1863 Physician in Ordinary to the

Prince of Wales Prince of Wales (, ; ) is a title traditionally given to the male heir apparent to the History of the English monarchy, English, and later, the British throne. The title originated with the Welsh rulers of Kingdom of Gwynedd, Gwynedd who, from ...

; he attended both the

Prince Consort A prince consort is the husband of a monarch who is not a monarch in his own right. In recognition of his status, a prince consort may be given a formal title, such as ''prince''. Most monarchies do not allow the husband of a queen regnant to be ...

and the prince of Wales in their attacks of typhoid fever. In 1868, he was created a

baronet A baronet ( or ; abbreviated Bart or Bt) or the female equivalent, a baronetess (, , or ; abbreviation Btss), is the holder of a baronetcy, a hereditary title awarded by the British Crown. The title of baronet is mentioned as early as the 14th ...

. As a consultant, Sir William Jenner had a great reputation, and he left a large fortune when he died, at Bishops Waltham, Hants, on 11 December 1898, having then retired from practice for eight years owing to failing health. He had married in 1858 Adela Lucy Leman, the daughter of Stephen Adey, with whom he had five sons and a daughter. His son, Leopold, was a decorated Army officer of the First World War.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jenner, William 1815 births 1898 deaths People from Chatham, Kent Baronets in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom 19th-century English medical doctors Alumni of University College London Academics of University College London Fellows of the Royal College of Physicians Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath Presidents of the Royal College of Physicians Fellows of the Royal Society Physicians-in-Ordinary Typhoid fever