John Graunt was born on April 24, 1620 and was baptized a week later at St. Micheal, Cornhill. His father was Henry Graunt, who was a draper and his mother was Mary Graunt. Graunt was educated in English and then trained in his father's profession at the age of 16. Graunt had `excellent working head and the business flourished' Graunt taught himself Latin and French by studying mornings before shop-time. In February 1641, Graunt married Mary Scot who bore him one son and three daughters. Graunt befriend the polymath and thinker of Sir William Petty, whom was interested in similar ideas.

The field of work had chosen to study was `transforming our social self-understanding.' He originally appeared to be interested in commercial business, but his focuses went with the `theoretical and interpretative aspects of the facts he was gathering.' By doing this, be became known as the `father of statistics'...