Pause for a moment to consider the weight of this bronze figure. This is the Statue of Edward Jenner. He sits here in Kensington Gardens. The statue commemorates a man who changed the world.
Edward Jenner was a physician. He was also a scientist. He pioneered the world’s first vaccine. This statue is a testament to his contribution.
Originally, the Statue of Edward Jenner stood in Trafalgar Square. It was unveiled on May 17, 1858. Albert, Prince Consort did the honors. In 1862, it was moved to this quieter spot in Kensington Gardens.
William Calder Marshall sculpted the statue. It is now a Grade II listed building. Jenner is depicted seated. He holds papers in one hand. The plinth is made of Portland stone. Jenner’s surname is inscribed on a panel. It is made of Aberdeen granite. The inscription at the base reads “W. Calder Marshall, R. A. Sculpt. 1858”.
A bronze plaque sits in front of the Statue of Edward Jenner. It describes him as a “country doctor who benefited mankind”.
Smallpox was once a dreaded disease. It caused countless deaths especially among children. Survivors were often scarred, blinded or deformed. In 1796, Jenner vaccinated James Phipps with cowpox. He proved that the boy was then immune to smallpox. Jenner predicted the eradication of smallpox worldwide. This was finally achieved in 1980.
The Statue of Edward Jenner was the first to be erected in Kensington Gardens in 1862. The cost was covered by international donations.
In 1853, the UK made vaccination compulsory. Calder Marshall gained attention for his bust of Jenner. It was displayed at The Great Exhibition in 1851. A public fund was launched to create a London memorial. International donations poured in. The British public were less supportive.
Prince Albert unveiled the finished Statue of Edward Jenner. It was a triumph for vaccination.
Not everyone supported the memorial. Anti-vaccinationists opposed it. The military also objected. In 1858, Trafalgar Square was reserved for military figures. A newspaper noted the scandal of a civilian doctor being seated among his standing superiors.
Despite calls for its removal, the Statue of Edward Jenner remained in Trafalgar Square. It stayed there until two months after Prince Albert’s death in 1861.
In 1862, Frederick William Headland contrasted Jenner with military figures. He said they were there “because they killed their fellow-creatures, whereas he only saved them”.
Proposals to move the Statue of Edward Jenner to a more prominent location resurfaced in 1923 and 1937. In 2010, on the 30th anniversary of smallpox eradication, a new campaign began. It aimed to return the statue to Trafalgar Square.
So, here stands the Statue of Edward Jenner. It is a lasting tribute to a man who saved millions of lives. His work continues to impact the world today. Take a moment to appreciate his legacy.