Jean-Antoine Villemin

Jean-Antoine Villemin (January 28, 1827 – October 6, 1892) was a French physician born in Prey, Vosges.

Villemin was born in the department of Vosges, and studied medicine at the military medical school at Strasbourg, qualifying as an army doctor in 1853.

In 1865 Villemin proved that tuberculosis was an infectious disease by inoculating laboratory rabbits with material from infected humans and cattle.

However, his findings were ignored by the scientific community at the time, and Villemin's contributions wouldn't be realized until years later when they were corroborated by other scientists.

The Prix Leconte was posthumously awarded to Villemin (and its ₣50,000 presented to his heirs) in 1892 in recognition of his work.