William Farr

William Farr was a pioneering British statistician and one of the founders of modern epidemiology in the 19th century. He is best known for his work on vital statistics, which involves collecting and analyzing public health data, such as birth and death records. Farr advocated for the use of statistical methods to understand the causes and patterns of disease, significantly contributing to our knowledge of public health and disease prevention. His analyses helped identify factors like sanitation and living conditions that impact health, ultimately shaping health policy and practices in the era of industrialization.