Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, Social Entrepreneurship, and Smallpox Inoculation in Eighteenth Century England

Abstract

The eradication of smallpox has been widely credited to Edward Jenner, who in 1796 discovered a vaccination for the horrific disease from cowpox. Yet, the battle against the smallpox did not begin with Edward Jenner; instead it began 80 years earlier in 1716 with Lady Mary Wortley Montagu. Lady Mary Wortley Montagu was a wealth aristocrat, whose life was dramatically altered by the horrific disease: the death of her beloved brother, her contraction of smallpox, and her struggle to popularize smallpox inoculation in England. This paper will bring a new perspective to Lady Mary Wortley Montagu’s popularization of inoculation against smallpox by examining her contribution through the lens of social entrepreneurship, instead of focusing solely on her social class and gender. By definition, social entrepreneurs are those who seek to solve a particular social issue by providing a unique solution and mobilizing the masses in support of change. Using modern-day social entrepreneurial steps, such as having a personal connection to the social issue, researching possible solutions, creating a solution, reaching out for support, developing a plan, and identifying patrons, Lady Mary Wortley Montagu not only popularized smallpox inoculation in England but also laid the foundation for her enduring legacy.