Farr, WILLIAM

Farr, WILLIAM, statistician, was born at Kenley, in Shropshire, November 30, 1807. He studied medicine at Paris and London, and afterwards gave his attention mainly to medical statistics and the questions connected therewith. In 1839, two years after the registration of deaths, and of the causes of death was commenced in England, Farr received an appointment in the Registrar-general's Office in London, where he eventually became superintendent of the statistical department, a post which he held until 1880. He died in London, 14th April 1883. His chief books are Tables of Lifetimes, Annuities, and Premiums (1864); English Reproduction Table (1880); and Net Premiums for Insurance against Fatal Accident (1880). His Vital Statistics, a memorial volume, appeared in 1885.