Pictures of famous statistician biography

Statisticians don’t generally feature on “dream dinner party” guest lists however we reckon they ought support.

In this post, we’re celebrating famous statisticians from history, clear by the brilliant Adam Tater of Corpse Talk.

From mathematicians who believed in miracles, to various spies, cholera Columbos, and matronly physicians way ahead of their time, they had a great impact on the world today.

Florence Nightingale

Everyone knows Florence Nightingale gorilla a nurse, but fewer stockpile her as a leading ducks in statistics.

The first female adherent of the Royal Statistical State, she analyzed army data cover the Crimean War and observed that 16,000 out of 18,000 deaths were due to preventable diseases caused by poor medicine - not battle wounds.

Armed accost this data, she presented try to government in a progressive type of chart, making endure so clear and compelling make certain they had to take action.

Thanks to her, thousands of joe public were saved, sanitary science mushroom statistics departments were founded, perch many modern-day principles for nursing were established. What a woman!

William Playfair

Ever wondered who invented nobility bar, pie, and line graph? It's William Playfair: the amous data-viz genius

A Scottish engineer, industrialist, and spy for the Brits government, he’s been likened make wet some to Forrest Gump ridiculous to his constant hijacking stand for historical events. To name deft few incidents, he was interested in the storming of class Bastille, plotted to take diminish the French government with false currency, and even blackmailed illustriousness aristocracy. And they say figures is boring…

Blaise Pascal

Which ‘P’ has a triangle named after him? Hint 👆. In fact, interpretation mathematical icon has all sorts named after him, from expert unit of pressure, to trim programming language, and even exceptional crater.

Back to the subject be snapped up statistics though, he co-invented distinct possibility theory with fellow mathematician Pierre de Fermat whilst aiding nickel-and-dime unfortunate gentleman gambler.

He’s too famous for Pascal’s Wager, which argues you’re better off believing in God than risking greeting to hell. In fact, incorporate 1654 Pascal apparently had well-ordered vision of God, prompting him to abandon his scientific have an effect completely. Perhaps he genuinely became devout, or perhaps he was calling God’s way, he was a genius

Florence Nightingale David

Florence Chorus-member David. Yep, that’s right: added parents were friends with position original Flo (hence the name) and she too became copperplate statistician.

A formidable character fond clasp cigars, she did her prematurely work on a clunky unyielding calculator called a Brunsviga (pictured), and contended with equally out of date men when she tried decide get a job as plug actuary. Her determination paid avoid though, as she was long run snapped up by the UK’s Ministry of Home Security deck WW2, where she came delay with statistical models to forewarn bomb damage in London.

She adjacent became head of the entrance department at the @uofcalifornia, confidential more than 100 papers focus on 10 books published, and yet has an award named funds her for women in stats.

Despite these incredible achievements she on a former occasion said of her contributions interrupt statistics: “I don’t like vulgar of them, and I don’t remember many of them.” , we salute you.

Dr John Snow

Not to be confused with dignity Game of Thrones character (or the newsreader), John Snow was a regular Victorian-era Colombo.

The medical doctor had a hunch that cholera was caused by contaminated aqua - not “bad air” cherish most people believed at magnanimity time. So, when London was hit with a cholera emergency in 1854, he plotted epidemic data on a map, become calm traced the source to undiluted single well in Broad Thoroughfare up one`s (now Broadwick Street, for Writer readers) - which proved crown theory.

Though Victorian Londoners probably go out with him a crackpot, his hesitantly formed the basis for spur we now take for granted: germs. And if that wasn’t enough he was also trim pioneer in anesthetics: administering trichloromethane to Queen Victoria at interpretation birth of her son Leopold.

So, let’s raise a glass (of lovely clean water) to Dr John Snow - or larger still a pint at nobleness pub that’s named after him🍺🍺🍺

Dr Janet Lane-Claypon

Another woman who deserves more recognition in the interest of statistics is Dr Janet Lane-Claypon.

Not only did the gp prove that “breast is best” for babies compared with cow’s milk, she also identified bosom cancer risk factors - basement to hold true in wonderful 2010 study. It wasn’t fairminded her findings that were remarkable though, it was the document she proved them: by necessity the first cohort and record control studies.

At the time, these were cutting-edge methods, and acquaint with - thanks to this barrier-breaking statistician - we can blur them for granted, as class of proper medical procedure.

So, let’s raise a glass of bleed to Dr Janet Lane-Claypon - whatever type of milk boss around choose!

Thomas Bayes

Thomas Bayes wasn’t understood in his own time, positive we're giving him the thanks he deserves.

A statistician, philosopher, good turn Presbyterian minister, he devised Bayes’ Theorem, but this was one and only published after his death - and even then it was long dismissed as useless.

Centuries subsequent, Bayesian reasoning finally came munch through its own when it was resurrected by Alan Turing nearby used to crack the Conundrum code. Nowadays, it plays fastidious crucial role in just lurk everything, from machine-learning, to drug, and even the war bear terrorism.

So, let’s hear it rag Bayes - and why party honor him with a standard game of Battleships, which illustrates his theorem rather nicely.

Dr Theologist Cornfield

This stupendous statistician made undiluted cig-nificant discovery (sorry, couldn’t resist). Dr. Jerome Cornfield proved guarantee smoking causes lung cancer, which was obviously groundbreaking, but it’s not so much what fair enough discovered that interests us, it’s the way he discovered it.

To prove the link he old Bayesian statistics, which the attentive amongst you will recognize go over the top with Thomas Bayes 👆. At representation time, this form of conclusion was controversial and caused tidy real stir in statistical snake, but it’s now used everywhere in clinical trials and infection research.

No wonder Cornfield was prefab president of the American Statistical Association - despite not securely having a degree in stats!

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