The professional title of actuary was first applied to insurance business by Edward Rowe Mores, who emerged as a pivotal figure in the 1762 formation of The Society for Equitable Assurances on Lives and Survivorships. Beyond his contributions to financial analysis, he maintained an expansive academic interest in the antiquarian study of history, heraldry, and English typography.
Early Education and Academic Background
Born in 1731 at Gore Court in Tunstall, Kent, Mores was the son of a rector. Following his father's death in 1740, he attended the Merchant Taylors' School in London. He continued his studies at The Queen's College, Oxford, in 1746, eventually earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1750 and a Master of Arts in 1753. During his time at university, he displayed proficiency in Latin, a language he later insisted upon using within his own household.
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Mores was elected a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London in 1752 and joined its council the following year. His literary output included a 1749 study on the heraldry of knights under Edward I. While he dedicated significant effort to a county history of Berkshire, the manuscript remained incomplete at the time of his death and was published posthumously in 1783. His collaborative efforts on the history of Croydon Palace with Andrew Ducarel ended in a professional disagreement regarding authorship attribution.
Pioneering the Actuarial Profession
Following the death of James Dodson, Mores assumed a leadership role in the group that established the Society for Equitable Assurances on Lives and Survivorship. Within this organization, he introduced the term actuary to define the role of the chief official, marking the earliest known application of this title in a commercial insurance context.
Personal Life and Final Years
In 1753, he married Susannah Bridgman, the daughter of his stepfather. The couple had two children, Sarah and Edward Rowe. Mores lived at Etlow House in Low Leyton, Essex, until his death on 28 November 1778. He succumbed to gangrene and was buried in the churchyard of St Mary the Virgin, Walthamstow, alongside his wife, who had died in 1767.
Fast facts
- Born: 1731, Tunstall, Kingdom of Great Britain
- Died: 1778, Low Leyton, Essex
- Education: Merchant Taylors' School, The Queen's College, Oxford
- Professional Titles: Mathematician, Actuary
- Affiliation: Society of Antiquaries of London
- Notable Achievement: First to use the title actuary in insurance
- Spouse: Susannah Bridgman
- Languages: English, Latin
Questions readers ask
What was Mores's contribution to the insurance industry?
He led the founding group of the Society for Equitable Assurances on Lives and Survivorship in 1762 and created the professional designation of actuary.
Did he publish his historical research?
He published a study on the heraldry of Edward I's knights in 1749, though other works, such as his history of Berkshire, were published posthumously.
