James Jurin facts for kids

James Jurin (1684–1750) was an important English scientist and doctor. He is especially remembered for his early work on how liquids move in tiny tubes, a process called capillary action. He also did important studies on how to prevent smallpox through vaccination.

Jurin was a strong supporter of the famous scientist Sir Isaac Newton. He often used his clever writing to defend Newton's ideas.

Early Life and Studies

James Jurin was born in London, England, in 1684. His father, John Jurin, was a dyer. James went to Christ's Hospital school. He won a special scholarship to study at Trinity College, Cambridge. He earned his first degree in 1705. The next year, he became a fellow of the college.

Jurin became a student of Richard Bentley, who was in charge of Trinity College. He traveled with one of Bentley's students, Mordecai Cary. In 1709, Jurin earned his Master of Arts degree. He then became the headteacher of the Royal Grammar School, Newcastle. He often gave talks about mathematics and the work of Sir Isaac Newton.

In 1715, Jurin returned to Cambridge to study medicine. He became a medical doctor (MD) in 1716. After this, he started a successful medical practice in London and Tunbridge Wells. From 1725 to 1732, he worked as a doctor at Guy's Hospital. He later became a governor of the hospital. In 1724, Jurin married Mary Douglas. They had five daughters and one son.

Medical Work and Smallpox

Jurin became a very respected doctor and scientist. He was known for being smart, witty, and successful. He was a big supporter of a method called variolation to prevent smallpox. This method involved taking a small amount of material from a smallpox sore and scratching it into a healthy person's skin. This would usually cause a mild case of smallpox, which then made the person immune for life.

Jurin used early statistical studies to compare the dangers of variolation with catching smallpox naturally. He looked at death records for London for 14 years before 1723. He found that about one out of every 14 people had died from smallpox. During epidemics, this number could go up to 40 percent.

He asked people to share their experiences with smallpox and variolation. He received over 60 replies, mostly from other doctors. One important reply came from Thomas Nettleton. Nettleton shared his own calculations from his experiences in Yorkshire.

Jurin's studies showed that the chance of dying from variolation was about 1 in 50. But the chance of dying from naturally caught smallpox was much higher, about 1 in 7 or 8. He published his findings in a series of pamphlets called An Account of the Success of Inoculating the Small-Pox (1723–1727).

His work was very important in making smallpox variolation common in England. This happened about 70 years before Edward Jenner introduced the more effective "vaccination" using cowpox. Jurin stated that he had "plain Proof from Experience" that smallpox from variolation was "far less Dangerous" than catching it naturally.

A Scientist Like Newton

Jurin was a very enthusiastic supporter of Newton's ideas. He had studied under Roger Cotes and William Whiston at Cambridge. He later got to know Newton at the Royal Society, where Jurin served as Secretary. He always defended Newton's views and enjoyed debating with other scientists. He corresponded with famous thinkers like Voltaire and Émilie du Châtelet.

Jurin helped defend Newton's ideas in a debate about vis viva (a concept related to energy). He also encouraged international research on weather and meteorology.

One of his most famous contributions was his study of capillary action. This is the way liquids move up or down in very narrow tubes. Jurin figured out a rule, now sometimes called Jurin's law. This law states that the height a liquid rises in a capillary tube is related to how narrow the tube is. The narrower the tube, the higher the liquid goes.

He also wrote about hydrodynamics, which is the study of how liquids move. He looked into iatrophysics, which combines medicine and physics. He studied how the heart works mechanically and the weight of blood. He also wrote about how we see things, both clearly and unclearly.

Later Years

James Jurin was the doctor for Robert Walpole, a very important politician. Jurin prescribed a medicine for Walpole's bladder stones. Jurin had used a similar medicine for himself. However, Walpole died, and some people blamed Jurin for his death. Jurin had to write many pamphlets to defend his medical practice.

Jurin died in London in 1750. He was buried at St James Garlickhythe. His property was worth a lot of money, about £35,000 at the time. This would be like millions of pounds today.

A statue of his head, made by Peter Scheemakers, can be found at Trinity College, Cambridge.

Offices and Honors

See also

In Spanish: James Jurin para niños

• Zabdiel Boylston