In the spring of 1721, the people of Boston were alarmed by the news that there were several cases of smallpox in town. They knew that the disease could spread like wildfire and that a great many people would suffer or die from the dreadful illness.
Cotton Mather, a religious leader from Boston, had read about a new process that could provide a defense against the killer disease. It was called inoculation, and involved putting infected matter from a smallpox sore into a cut made in a healthy person's skin.
Nearly all physicians in the community opposed the inoculation of healthy people, because the process actually gave those inoculated a milder case of the disease. They saw it as a means of spreading the already disastrous epidemic among even greater numbers of people.
Finally, however, Mather and a few of his followers won out. While thousands fled to the countryside and others lay suffering and dying, they proceeded to inoculate many of the townspeople. By the time the epidemic was over, 240 persons had been inoculated and only 6 of them had died. Thanks to the scientific interest of Cotton Mather, a new defense against smallpox had been found.
for minister and judge in the salmen witch trails
Lobbied for the endowment that established Yale University.
In 1693.
Cotton Mather was a renowned and respected young minister who had already successfully dealt with a witchcraft case in Boston, where he worked. With his father, Increase, in England, Cotton Mather was the most influencial minister in New England and the most famous pre-revolution Boston minister.
Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Paine, Benjamin Banneker, Cotton Mather, Sir Isaac Newton, and the list goes on.....
Salem Town: Nicholas Noyes Salem Village: Samuel Parris Beverly: John Hale Boston: Cotton and Increase Mather
The Salem witch trials. Increase Mather was too smart and political knowlegdable to believe that there were witches.
How did Cotton Mather die?
Cotton Mather was born on February 12, 1663.
Cotton Mather was born on February 12, 1663.
Cotton Mather died on February 13, 1728 at the age of 65.
Cotton Mather had two children who had four grandchildren. Cotton Mather had a son and a daughter born in 1694 and 1706 respectively.
Cotton Mather was born on February 12, 1663 and died on February 13, 1728. Cotton Mather would have been 65 years old at the time of death or 352 years old today.
What is the source of cotton ? What are the merits of cotton? What are the demerits of cotton?
Cotton Mather
Hanover street, Boston,U.S.A
The Boston Ephemeris
Cotton Mather
Cotton Mather in 1692