(April 24, 1620-April 18, 1674)
Born in London, United Kingdom
London haberdasher
Wrote 'Natural and Political Observations Made upon the Bills of Mortality' (1662) analyzing deaths in London
Identified variations in deaths based on gender, age, residence and season of the year
Developed the first life expectancy tables
Pioneer in demography, actuarial science and epidemiology

He was named a fellow of the Royal Society only through the intervention of King Charles II.
He lost his job after being accused of helping to set the Great Fire of London (1666).
He died in poverty and was buried in a pigsty.
After his death, his work was largely ignored for two centuries.

The objections to his being named to the Royal Society had more to do with his status as a haberdasher than the quality of his research.
His analysis of the Bills of Mortality produced a more accurate estimate of the population of London, showed that the plague was causing more deaths than authorities thought and revealed an epidemic of rickets.
He invited criticism of his work and revised his ideas when presented with new data.
The accusations about the Great Fire were based solely on anti-Catholic prejudice.

Credit: C. Fishel

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