Francisco Xavier de Balmis papers, 1794-1821
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Summary
- Creator:
- Balmis, Francisco Xavier de
- Abstract:
- Francisco Xavier de Balmis (1753-1819) was a military surgeon for Charles IV who led the Spanish Royal Philanthropic Expedition, a maritime expedition from Spain to the Americas, Philippines, and China between 1803 and 1810, carrying a live smallpox vaccine and training local physicians in Spanish colonies on vaccination methods. The expedition included a group of orphaned and enslaved children, who were used to keep the vaccination viable for the duration of the voyage. The Spanish Royal Philanthropic Expedition is considered the first international vaccination campaign in history. The collection's papers include assorted documents from government and medical officials about Balmis's expedition, as well as letters drafted by Balmis to the king of Spain and others, describing his plans as well as attesting to the activities of the expedition.
- Extent:
- 0.2 Linear Feet (1 box)
- Language:
- Materials in Spanish.
- Research Center:
- Josiah Charles Trent History of Medicine Collections
- Collection ID:
- RL.13201
Background
- Scope and content:
-
The collection consists of a small number of documents in manuscript Spanish from Francisco Xavier de Balmis, relating to his appointment as a surgeon general, his planning and undertaking the Royal Philanthropic Vaccine Expedition (with references to his travels to Havana, Mexico, and the Philippines), his return to Spain, and a second trip back to Mexico for more vaccination efforts. Items present include some passports; announcements and royal appointments; correspondence from various officials in Spain, Mexico, and the Philippines; and drafts of letters in Balmis's hand discussing his travel plans and recounting his years of service to Charles IV. The collection also contains some legal and administrative notes regarding Balmis's estate, particularly expenses incurred following his death by his sister Micaela Balmis.
- Biographical / historical:
-
Francisco Xavier de Balmis (2 December 1753 – 12 February 1819) was a Spanish physician who led an 1803 expedition to Spanish America, the Philippines, and China to vaccinate populations against smallpox. His expedition was the first international vaccination campaign in history.
Balmis was a military surgeon who spent his early career serving in various Spanish military and naval campaigns. He worked in several Spanish American colonies, and eventually became director of the venereal disease ward in a Mexico City hospital. He was also a scientist, and authored Tratado de las virtudes del agave y la begonia (1794), following his travels in Mexico.
The development of a new smallpox vaccine, which used Edward Jenner's 1798 cowpox method (vaccinia), meant safer and easier innoculation of large numbers of people throughout Europe. Spain began using vaccinia in late 1800, and in March 1803, King Charles IV instructed the Council of the Indies to develop a plan for introducing smallpox vaccination to his territories in the Americas and Asia. Balmis was selected to lead the expedition, known as the Royal Philanthropic Vaccine Expedition, and the Spanish government funded the project.
Balmis's ship left Coruna, Spain, on November 30, 1803. Accompanying him were several other physicians and nurses, plus a group of 22 orphaned boys (ages 3 to 9 years old) and their caretaker, Isabel Zendala y Gomez. The children were used to carry the vaccine across the ocean and into warm climates. The expedition visited Puerto Rico and Venezuela, arriving in March 1804. The initial group split in Caracas, and a subexpedition (led by Jose Salvany) continued south to Peru and Chile. Balmis's expedition went to New Spain, including Cuba and Mexico. Balmis worked in Mexico City, training physicians and administering vaccinations, for nearly a year (1804 June-1805 February). Balmis then traveled from Acapulco to the Philippines, with another group of 26 Mexican boys.
The ship arrived in Manila in April 1805, and Balmis left a contingent in the Phiippines and continued on to Asia, reaching Macao in September 1805 and Canton (Guangzhou, China) in October 1805. He then returned to Spain, reaching King Charles IV's court in September 1806.
Balmis remained in Spain as an inspector general for the vaccine. He was sent to Mexico in 1810 to reintroduce the vaccine, and remained there until 1813. He was appointed a chamber surgeon by Fernando VII in 1815, and died in Madrid in February 1819.
Source cited: Mark, Catherine, and Jose G. Rigau-Perez. "The World's First Immunization Campaign: The Spanish Smallpox Vaccine Expedition, 1803–1813," Bulletin of the History of Medicine Vol. 83, No. 1. Special Issue (2009 Spring), accessed 2026 June 10.
- Acquisition information:
- The Francisco Xavier de Balmis Papers were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library as a purchase from Elena Gallego Rare Books in 2026.
- Processing information:
-
Processed by Marta Conde, Meghan Lyon, June 2026
Accessions described in this collection guide: 2026-0039
- Arrangement:
-
Materials are arranged chronologically.
- Physical facet:
- 25 items
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Subjects
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Collection is open for research.
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- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of item], Francisco Xavier de Balmis Papers, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.
- Permalink:
- https://idn.duke.edu/ark:/87924/m1p74d