[One-hundred anniversary of the decoration of Dr Carlos J. Finlay with medal Mary Kingsley].

A comprehensive information about the life of Mary Henrietta Kingsley, a British traveller, naturalist and nurse, and the legacy of her beneficent work were provided in this paper. Also, reference was made to medal Mary Kingsley, an award that was created to perpetuate the memory of this outstanding woman and to acknowledge the work of researchers who have attained remarkable results in the field of tropical medicine. A number of details were given regarding the decoration of well-known Cuban scientist Dr Carlos Juan Finlay Barrés with this medal in 1907. This modest article was aimed at saving from oblivion an event of great importance for the history of public health in general and of tropical medicine in particular since the one hundred anniversary of this event is to be celebrated.