John Clinch (January 9, 1749 – November 22, 1819) was a clergyman-physician credited with being the first man to practice vaccination in North America.
John Clinch | |
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Born | January 9, 1749 |
Died | November 22, 1819 | (aged 70)
Medical career | |
Profession | clergyman, physician, poet |
He was born in Cirencester, England, one of twin children of Thomas Clinch of Bere Regis in Dorset. In 1798 he administered the first smallpox vaccines at Trinity, Newfoundland.[1] Clinch had attended school in Cirencester with the vaccine pioneer Edward Jenner, and both had then studied medicine under John Hunter.[2]
Clinch also compiled a glossary of the Beothuk language containing over 100 words.[2][3]
He died in 1819 in Trinity, Newfoundland.