A Note on William Derham

In his review of The Watch on the Heath (Galton Institute Newsletter No. 57, 2005, pp11-12), Anthony Smith refers to Paley’s argument for Design in the universe, that from the finding of a watch in a lonely place we should infer a watch-maker. In fact, “Paley took the watch argument out of Derham and did not invent it himself” (Pearson, 1978, p286).

William Derham (1657-1735) was a clergyman and, unlike Paley, a scientist of merit. He made useful contributions to physics, meteorology, zoology (especially birds and insects), statistics, demography (including positive checks) – and clockwork. He provided medical treatment for his parishioners. He was elected FRS in 1702.

In his book Physico-Theology (1713), based on his Boyle Lectures of 1711 and 1712, he maintained that scientific investigation could make a crucial contribution to natural theology, by demonstrating from His creations the power and wisdom of God. The relevance of the watch argument is obvious.

As Karl Pearson observed (Pearson, 1978, p286), “Derham did not confine his attention to the harmony and perfection of the universe as exhibited in physical laws and animal organisms. He extended the notion involved in stable physical laws to stable statistical ratios, and found in the statistical relations of man and animals to their environment further evidences of the divine ordinances. That conception worded as the Divine Ordering (die götliche Ordnung) was to become for a time the ruling conception of statistics for Süssmilch, Quetelet, Florence Nightingale, and with a modified meaning we might almost add Francis Galton”.

W.M.S. Russell

Pearson, E.S. (ed.), 1978. The History of Statistics in the 17^th and 18^th Centuries, Lectures by Karl Pearson, 1921-1933. Charles Griffin and Company, London and High Wycombe.