How a 17th-century mortality list shaped modern demographic science
In short: Explore the lineage of modern statistics through Professor Michael Murphy’s analysis of John Graunt's London Bills of Mortality. This lecture connects centuries of data collection to our current understanding of life and death.
Professor Michael Murphy examines the profound influence of John Graunt, whose 1662 publication of the London Bills of Mortality serves as a cornerstone for contemporary mortality studies. The lecture contextualizes how these early records laid the groundwork for modern demographic science in the UK and across Europe.
Presented at Gresham College—an institution providing free public lectures since 1597—the talk bridges the gap between historical data and 'state-of-the-art' research. It offers a sophisticated look at how systematic observation of death evolved into the complex social policy tools used by organizations like the UN and OECD today.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: A Grauntian Perspective on Contemporary British Mortality - Professor Michael Murphy
- Also: www.lse.ac.uk — Emeritus Professor Michael Murphy | LSE Department of Social Policy staff profile | Expert in demography, ageing, mortality
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