Biographical information about members of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries
The libraries hold sources which provide biographical details about members of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries and those of the former Institute and former Faculty and their professional achievements.
Obituaries of members of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries and honorary members
The libraries maintain an index to memoirs, notices and obituaries of members in yearbooks and published list of members, Journal of the Institute of Actuaries, Transactions of the Faculty of Actuaries, and The Actuary. It is indexed by surname. Please contact libraries@actuaries.org.uk to request the full obituary paper. Some may be available through the website's Document Library and we can provide a link to access the paper online or supply an electronic file of a paper scanned from the profession's early journals.
- Obituaries of members of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries
John Finlaison FIA (1783-1860)
We have produced a summary outline of the life of John Finlaison, the first president of the Institute of Actuaries and the first government actuary, based on extensive researches and draft chapters for a book by a later president John Gunlake. We would welcome new researchers who would like to bring this work to a conclusion.
- Biography of John Finlaison, first President of the Institute of Actuaries
Presidents
Documents listing the past presidents of the original Faculty of Actuaries and Institute of Actuaries are available under 'Associated documents' (right). In 2010, the respective memberships of the Faculty and of the Institute voted by a majority for a merger as one professional body, the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.
Actuaries recognised with awards and prizes
The Faculty of Actuaries and Institute of Actuaries have each recognised the achievements of individual actuaries for success in professional examinations or for their significant contribution to actuarial science or to the profession. Please follow 'Associated links' (below) on 'Awards and recognition' and 'Prizes' available too through the 'Members' area of the website. Again the libraries can provide links to published papers on the award events honouring individual actuaries.
Actuary ancestors
The libraries are pleased to help those researching actuaries as family ancestors. Our index to obituary references may lead to more biographical information about some actuaries, but where an obituary is not available, we can research a member's entry as a student in the profession, their date of qualification as a Fellow, some employment details (sometimes recorded in insurance company histories) and sometimes a photograph. Please contact libraries@actuaries.org.uk with your enquiry.