Richard Price was among the most important dissenting thinkers of the late eighteenth century. His contributions to understanding the mathematics of probability earned him a Fellowship in the Royal Society, and, when applied to mortality tables, considerably improved the calculation of the liabilities of life insurance companies, and hence their rise to institutional importance in modern societies. Price’s arguments in favour of rational divinity, religious toleration and political freedom and his support for the American rebels during the British-American War of Independence, were also to bring him to prominence in the political sphere.

Early Life

Early Life

Richard Price was born on 23 February 1723 at Tyn-ton, Glamorgan, the eldest of three children and only son of Catherine and Rice

1954 words

Citation: Clark, Robert. "Richard Price". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 27 August 2009 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=5792, accessed 19 March 2024.]

5792 Richard Price 1 Historical context notes are intended to give basic and preliminary information on a topic. In some cases they will be expanded into longer entries as the Literary Encyclopedia evolves.

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