William Farr - Early Life

Early Life

He was born in Kenley, Shropshire, England to poor parents. He was effectively adopted by a local squire, Joseph Pryce, when Farr and his family moved to Dorrington.

In 1826 he took a job as a dresser (surgeon's assistant) in Shrewsbury infirmary. Pryce died in November 1828, and left Farr £500, which allowed him to study medicine in France and Switzerland. He returned to England in 1831 and continued his studies at University College London, qualifying as a doctor with the Apothecaries' Society in March 1832.

He married in 1833 and started a medical practice in Fitzroy Square, London. By this time he had become fascinated by medical statistics, a subject which he called "hygology" (derived from "hygiene"). In 1837 he wrote a chapter called "Vital Statistics" for a highly regarded reference book, John McCulloch's "Statistical Account of the British Empire". In January 1837 he established the British Annals of Medicine, Pharmacy, Vital Statistics, and General Science, but it was already discontinued in August.

Shortly after graduating he attempted to establish a course in "Hygiology", but was unable to gain recognition from any educational institution for this project (Diamond and Stone I:68).