Theobald Smith

Microbiologist and immunologist, born in Albany, New York, USA. He studied at Cornell, and came to be associated with several US institutions, including Harvard (professor, 1896–1915) and the Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research (1915–29). He first implicated an insect vector in the spread of disease when he showed that Texas cattle fever is spread by ticks. He worked on human and bovine tuberculosis, laid the scientific foundations for a cholera vaccine, improved the production of smallpox vaccine, diphtheria and tetanus antitoxins, and established precise techniques for the bacteriological examination of water, milk, and sewage.

Theobald Smith
Born	July 31, 1859 Albany, New York
Died	December 10, 1934 New York City, New York

Theobald Smith (July 31, 1859 – December 10, 1934) was a pioneering epidemiologist and pathologist and is widely-considered to be America's first internationally-significant medical research scientist.

Smith was born in Albany, New York, and received a Bachelor of Philosophy degree from Cornell University in 1881, followed by an MD degree from Albany Medical College in 1883.After his graduation from medical school, Smith held a variety of temporary positions which might broadly be considered under the modern heading of "medical laboratory technician". After some prodding by his former professors, Smith secured a new research lab assistant position with the Veterinary Division of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) in Washington, D.C., beginning his position there in December 1883.

Smith became the Inspector of the newly reorganized Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) in 1884.

After two years of work studying the efficacy of bacterial vaccination in pigs Smith erroneously believed he had found the causative agent of hog cholera.

Smith turned his attention to Texas fever, a debilitating cattle disease.

Smith also taught at Columbian University in Washington, D.C.

While Smith's work at the BAI had been highly productive, he chaffed under the federal government bureaucracy and the lack of leadership from his supervisor.

Smith joined the Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research as Director of the Department of Animal Pathology in 1915 and remained there until his retirement in 1929.

In 1933, Smith was awarded the Royal Society's prestigious Copley Medal "For his original research and observation on diseases of animals and man.".