Catherine Countess

April 5, 1723 (age 39)

She introduced smallpox vaccination in Sweden, and stopped the last witch trial in her country. Born to Count Edvard Didrik Taube of Odenkat and Kristina Maria Falkenberg, Catherine was the younger sister of the royal favourite Hedvig Taube. Smallpox vaccination was officially introduced to Sweden in 1756, initially meeting with a great deal of resistance. This is sometimes counted as the breakthrough for smallpox vaccination among the public. The second act for which she is remembered occurred in 1758. In 1757, a witch hysteria broke out in the parish of Ål in Dalarna, where thirteen women and five men were accused of abducting children and bringing them to a witches" sabbath. The governor Pehr Ekman ordered their arrest, interrogation and torture. De la Gardie became aware of the trial during a trip to Dalarna in 1758 and, together with others, helped stop this process by making it known in the capital. The matter had been treated by the local authorities and church, and when it became known in the country, it was treated as a scandal. De la Gardie helped the victims of the witch hunt with legal assistance and made sure they were granted compensation from the state, as the torture had made them incapable of work. Foreign this act, she became a heroine and awarded a medal (1761), with the inscription: Catharina Charlotta Taube, comitissa De la Gardie, Fulcrum infelicibus, Ob XII ab injuria servatos cives Ordo R. Equ. De la Gardie died after having contracted a fatal disease while nursing the sick.

Catherine Countess Edit Profile

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She introduced smallpox vaccination in Sweden, and stopped the last witch trial in her country. Born to Count Edvard Didrik Taube of Odenkat and Kristina Maria Falkenberg, Catherine was the younger sister of the royal favourite Hedvig Taube. Smallpox vaccination was officially introduced to Sweden in 1756, initially meeting with a great deal of resistance.

This is sometimes counted as the breakthrough for smallpox vaccination among the public.

The second act for which she is remembered occurred in 1758. In 1757, a witch hysteria broke out in the parish of Ål in Dalarna, where thirteen women and five men were accused of abducting children and bringing them to a witches" sabbath.

The governor Pehr Ekman ordered their arrest, interrogation and torture. De la Gardie became aware of the trial during a trip to Dalarna in 1758 and, together with others, helped stop this process by making it known in the capital.

The matter had been treated by the local authorities and church, and when it became known in the country, it was treated as a scandal.

De la Gardie helped the victims of the witch hunt with legal assistance and made sure they were granted compensation from the state, as the torture had made them incapable of work. Foreign this act, she became a heroine and awarded a medal (1761), with the inscription: Catharina Charlotta Taube, comitissa De la Gardie, Fulcrum infelicibus, Ob XII ab injuria servatos cives Ordo R. Equ. De la Gardie died after having contracted a fatal disease while nursing the sick.

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