Charles Creighton

Charles Creighton

Charles Creighton, Scottish physician and medical historian
Name	Charles Creighton
Birth name
Birth date	22 November 1847
Birth place	Peterhead, Scotland
Death date	18 July 1927
Death place	London, England
Alma mater
Occupation	Physician, Medical Historian
Years active
Organization
Known for
Notable works
Spouse(s)
Website

Charles Creighton (22 November 1847 – 18 July 1927) was a Scottish physician and medical historian, renowned for his critical views on vaccination and his extensive work on the history of epidemics.

Early Life and Education

Charles Creighton was born in Peterhead, Scotland. He attended the University of Aberdeen, where he studied medicine. After completing his medical degree, Creighton furthered his education in Vienna, where he developed an interest in medical history and pathology.

Career

Creighton began his career as a practicing physician but soon turned his focus to medical writing and research. He became known for his meticulous historical research and his critical stance on contemporary medical practices, particularly vaccination.

Views on Vaccination

Creighton was a prominent critic of vaccination, a stance that was controversial during his time. He argued that vaccination was not only ineffective but also potentially harmful. His views were detailed in his work Jenner and Vaccination: A Strange Chapter of Medical History, where he questioned the scientific basis of Edward Jenner's work on smallpox vaccination.

Contributions to Medical History

Creighton is perhaps best known for his contributions to the history of epidemics. His magnum opus, A History of Epidemics in Britain, is a comprehensive account of the occurrence and impact of epidemics in Britain from the Middle Ages to the 19th century. This work remains a valuable resource for historians and epidemiologists.

Legacy

Despite his controversial views on vaccination, Creighton's work in medical history has been influential. His detailed historical accounts provide insight into the social and medical responses to epidemics over the centuries. His skepticism towards vaccination also contributed to the broader debate on medical ethics and public health policy.

Also see

• Edward Jenner
• History of vaccination
• Epidemiology
• Medical ethics