Description
Book SynopsisTo meet William Morgan is to encounter the eighteenth-century world of finance, science and politics. Born in Bridgend in 1750, his heritage was Welsh but his influence extended far beyond national borders, and the legacy of his work continues to shape life in the twenty-first century. Aged only twenty-five and with no formal training, Morgan became actuary at the Equitable, which was then a fledgling life assurance company. Known today as 'the father of actuarial science', his pioneering work earned him the Copley Medal, the Royal Society's most prestigious award. His interests covered a wider scientific field, and his papers on electrical experiments show that he unwittingly constructed the first X-ray tube. Politically radical, Morgan's outspoken views put him at risk of imprisonment during Pitt's Reign of Terror. Using unpublished family letters, this biography explores Morgan's turbulent private life, and cover his outstanding public achievements.
Table of ContentsAcknowledgements List of Illustrations William Morgan Family Tree Prologue Chapter 1: Bridgend Chapter 2: Newington Green Chapter 3: Blackfriars Chapter 4: 1780 - Flaming June Chapter 5: At War Chapter 6: A Beautiful Green Light Chapter 7: Risk and Reward Chapter 8: Verbal Fisticuffs Chapter 9: Stamford Hill Chapter 10: A Stupendous Event Chapter 11: Bushill Fields Chapter 12: A Radical Friend Chapter 13: A Trumpet of Liberty Chapter 14: Trial for High Treason Chapter 15: Pitt's Gagging Acts Chapter 16: Invasion, Panic and Mutiny Chapter 17: The Reign of Terror Chapter 18: Diaspora Chapter 19: The Price of Success Chapter 20: Family, Celebrations and Calamities Chapter 21: A Costly Peace Chapter 22: Rise, Progress, Misrepresentation Chapter 23: A Fragment Chapter 24: Final Years Chapter 25: Afterwards Chapter 26: Epilogue Bibliography
