On the duration of life among the English gentry, with additional observations on the duration of life among the aristocracy / [William A. Guy].

  • William Augustus Guy
Date:
[1846]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On the duration of life among the English gentry, with additional observations on the duration of life among the aristocracy / [William A. Guy]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    This table shows the great improvement which has taken place in the duration of life in recent times as compared with the average of the last six centuries. When, however, the average of the deaths recorded in the last century, in the pages of the Annual Register, is compared with the average of a period immediately preceding it, the increase in the value of life will appear to be much less considerable. Thus the average age at death of 812 members of the families of the peerage and baronetage, horn during the first 45 years of the 18th century, and of whom a considerable proportion must have died before the end of that century, is 64*13, but the average age at death of 1239 males of the same class, dying from the year 1758 to the year 1843 inclusive, and of whom a large number must have been born during the latter end of the 18th century, is 65*31, being an increase of 1*18 years. This difference of little more than one year may be fairly presumed to be the advantage enjoyed by members of the aristocracy, born during the last half of the 18th century, over those born during the first half of the same century. The results established in this paper differ from many averages recently obtained, inasmuch as they are not likely to be influenced by any material difference in the ages of the living members of the several classes which have been made the subjects of comparison. By limiting the record of deaths to adults, and comparing classes which may be presumed to be similarly circumstanced in regard to the ages of the living, it is believed that the results obtained are free from one of the most embarrassing fallacies belonging to vital statistics. It may be useful to conclude these remarks by a brief summary of the chief propositions and probabilities established in this and the previous essay. 1. The duration of life among the higher classes has varied greatly at different periods. It was a minimum in persons born during the 14th century, and a maximum in those born during the 16th century; and it was nearly equal in those born during the 13th and first half of the 18th centuries. From the 16th century (the period of the maximum) it gradually fell till the latter half of the 17th century, since which period it has again increased, and is still probably improving. These propositions are based rather upon the coincidence of the several series of facts than on the number of the facts themselves, which during the early periods are not sufficiently numerous. (See Table VI.) 2. The duration of life among the upper classes varies with their rank, being lowest in the highest, and highest in the lowest rank. Beginning with the class which has the shortest average duration of life, the several classes will be found to stand in the following order. 1. Kings. 2. Members of Royal Houses, (males)*. * This relative position of the members of Royal Families is confirmed by the approximate average age at death of the members of Ducal and Princely families, extracted by Dr. Casper, of Berlin, from the Almanack of Gotha. The following, in round numbers, are the average ages : 20 and upwards, 56 ; 25 and upwards, 57 ; 30 and upwards, 59; 40 and upwards, 63; 50 and upwards, 67. These numbers are higher than those obtained for English Kings, and lower than those obtained for