Talk:Elizur Wright

Latest comment: 8 years ago by NewYorkActuary in topic Description in lead paragraph

Needs credible sources

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This entry relies in part on Appleton's Cylopedia, which has been shown to include a number of fictional biographies, calling into question the credibility of its other entries. While most of the fact here seem fine, this entry should be revised using the two excellent biographies of Wright, one by his descendants and an academic one: Lawrence B. Goodheart, Abolitionist, Actuary, Athiest: Elizur Wright and the Reform Impulse (Kent State University Press, 1990). At some point, I'll chip in and do some of it.... Troutfang (talk) 12:50, 8 October 2013 (UTC)Reply

Description in lead paragraph

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I've corrected the description of Wright in the lead paragraph. Although Wright used actuarial tables in his pioneering insurance work, he was not a pioneer in the theory or construction of the tables themselves. I also clarified that the "father" appellation is used only in the United States. I doubt very much that British or German actuaries consider Wright to be the "father" of their insurance industries (but if I'm wrong about this, please let me know). NewYorkActuary (talk) 18:15, 23 December 2015 (UTC)Reply