| Authorised form of name | Graunt; John (1620 - 1674); statistician |
| Dates | 1620 - 1674 |
| Nationality | British |
| Place of birth | The sign of the Seven Stars, Birchin Lane, London, England, Europe |
| Date of birth | 24 April 1620 |
| Place of death | Bolt Court, London, England, Europe |
| Date of death | 18 April 1674 |
| DatesAndPlaces | Burial:
St Dunstan-in-the-West, Fleet Street, London, England, Europe (22 April 1674) |
| Occupation | Shopkeeper |
| Research field | Statistics |
| Demography |
| Activity | Education:
Apprenticeship with haberdasher of small wares (1636)
Career:
Admitted freeman of Drapers' Company (1641); Author of 'Natural and Political Observations on the Bills of Mortality' (1662); Manager of the New River Company (1666); Member of the Common Council of the City of London; involved in actuarial work
|
| Membership category | Original Fellow |
| Date of election | 20/05/1663 |
| RSActivity | Royal Society roles:
On Council (1664-1666)
Committee and panels:
Committee for the Histories of Trades (1664) |
| Other Royal Society activity | Worked and associated closely with William Petty (FRS 1660), in particular regarding statistical accounts. Brought in reports on the growth of carps and salmons (1663) |
| Relationships | Parents: Henry Graunt and Mary Graunt
Married: Mary Scott |
| PublishedWorks | RCN: 41515
RCN: 41516
RCN: 41514 |
| OtherInfo | Graunt's life was heavily affected by contemporary events, as he lost his house during the Great Fire of London in 1666, which ruined him financially. Later in his life, Graunt converted to Catholicism and subsequently experienced prosecutions for recusancy. Graunt is remembered for his contributions to statistics, demographical studies and early epidemiology. His book represented the publication of the first known life table based, in part, on real mortality data. He recorded data on childhood deaths, estimated the population of London, and is generally credited with creating a fundamental work for the evolution of actuarial science. |
| Source | Sources:
Bulloch's Roll; DNB; DSB; Aubrey; ODNB; Sprat
References:
Brimblecombe, P. 1977-8. 'Interest in Air Pollution Among Early Fellows of the Royal Society', in Notes and Record, vol. 32, pp. 123-129
Glass, D V. 1964. 'John Graunt and his Natural and Political Observations', in Notes and Records, vol. 19, pp. 63-100
Greenwood, M. 1938. 'The First Life Table', in Notes and Records, vol. 1, pp. 70-72
Masson, Sir I and Youngson, A J. 1960. 'Sir William Petty, FRS (1623-1687)', in Notes and Records, vol. 15, pp. 79-90
Notes:
The election date is Graunt's re-election date into the Society after the grant of the second charter in April 1663. All Fellows admitted in a two-month window after this charter, until 22 June 1663, are considered Original Fellows. He was previously admitted into the Society on 26 February 1662.
Hunter has admission date 5 March 1662, which Journal Book states is the day of subscription. |
| Virtual International Authority File | http://viaf.org/viaf/32062949 |
| Code | NA5059 |
| RefNo | Title | Date |
| NLB/5/1108 | Copy letter from Herbert Rix, to W K Curtis, Burgate Street, Canterbury | 5 January 1892 |
| NLB/11/884 | Copy letter from Herbert Rix, to Dr C H Hull, Cornell University, Ithaca, New york, United States of America | 28 October 1895 |
| CLP/15i/7 | Paper, 'An account of the multiplication and growth of carpes and salmons' by Mr [John] Graunt | 19 August 1663 |
| CLP/15i/8 | Petition, regarding the poor condition of the coasts causing depletion of fish by the fishmongers of London | 1663 |
| MC/16 | Volume 16 of miscellaneous correspondence regarding business matters, sent to the Royal Society | 1893-1896 |