1800 Luke Howard Coordinate paper

1800 Alexander Keith Automatic time-series graph

1801 William Playfair Pie chart

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Introduction Milestones Project Varieties of Data Visualization Related References Keyword Index

Pre-1600 1600s 1700s 1800+ 1850+ 1900+ 1950+ 1975+

1800-1849: Beginnings of modern data graphicsWith the fertilization provided by the previous innovations of design and technique, the first half of the 19th century witnessed explosive growth in statistical

graphics and thematic mapping, at a rate which would not be equalled until modern times.

In statistical graphics, all of the modern forms of data display were invented: bar and pie charts, histograms, line graphs and time-series plots, contour plots,

and so forth. In thematic cartography, mapping progressed from single maps to comprehensive atlases, depicting data on a wide variety of topics (economic,

social, moral, medical, physical, etc.), and introduced a wide range of novel forms of symbolism.

Jump to Milestone...

Added: 2008-07-17

Use of coordinate paper in published research (graph of barometric variations)

Luke Howard portrait

Luke Howard biography

Luke Howard: The man who named clouds

References:

Howard:1800

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Idea for continuous log of automatically recorded time series graphs (of temperature and barometric pressure), also recording themaximum and minimum

References:

Keith:1800

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Invention of the pie chart, and circle graph, used to show part-whole relations

Playfair's 1805 StatisticalRepresentation of the U.S.A.

Playfair's 1805 StatisticalRepresentation of the U.S.A.

Playfair's diagram of population andtaxes

1801 William Smith Large-scale geological map

Smith's 1815 map

William Smith portrait

1809 Johann Carl Friedrich Gauss Least squares method

Oxford DNB article by Ian Spence (pdf)

References:

Playfair:1801 Playfair:1805 Spence:2005

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Added: 2007-02-01

The first large-scale geological map of England and Wales, setting the pattern forgeological cartography, and founding stratigraphic geology. Recently called(hyperbolically) "the map that changed the world'' cite{Winchester:2001}. (Smith's mapwas first drawn in 1801, but the final version was not published until 1815.)

Smith's map, in zoomable sections

Transcript of pages from Smith's 1816--1824 Strata Identified By Organized Fossils

William Smith (1769-1839), "The Father of English Geology''

William Smith, from "The Rocky Road to Modern Paleontology and Biology''

William Smith, history

William "Strata'' Smith on the Web

The first known geological map was produced by Christopher Packe in 1743, and depicts South England. Smith's map is impressivefor its size (about 6 x 9 feet---printed as 15 separate copperplate engravings for a 5x3 grid), scope (all of England, Wales, and part of Scotland), beauty (elaborately hand-colored)and detail. Moreimportantly, he was the first to discover that the strata of England were in a definite order and the first to show that their fossil contents were in the same order.

References:

Smith:1815 Morton:1992

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Methods of determining an orbit from at least three observations; presentation of the least squares method

Gauss biography

References:

Gauss:1809

1811 Alexander von Humboldt Subdivided bar graph

Cross-section diagram of theChimborazo, 1805--07

von Humboldt charts

Humboldt portrait

Humboldt portrait, young

1817 Alexander von Humboldt 1st graph of isotherms

von Humboldt isotherms, Annals deChemie et de physique, 1817

von Humboldt isotherm

von Humboldt isotherms fromBerghaus' 1849 Atlas

von Humboldt isotherm icon

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Charts using subdivided bar graphs, and superimposed squares, showing the relative sizeof Mexican territories and populations in the colonies

Humboldt biography (French)

von Humboldt biography

References:

Humboldt:1811

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First graph of isotherms, showing mean temperature around the world by latitude andlongitude. Recognizing that temperature depends more on latitude and altitude, asubscripted graph shows the direct relation of temperature on these two variables

1819 Baron Pierre Charles Dupin Choropleth map

Dupin choropleth map of France

Dupin portrait, with his map

1820 Michael Faraday Natural phenomena

Faraday diagram of a magnet withlines of force

1821 Jean Baptiste Joseph Fourier Ogive curve

Fourier ogive

Fourier portrait

References:

Humboldt:1817

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Choropleth map with shadings from black to white (distribution and intensity of illiteracyin France), the first (unclassed) choropleth map, and perhaps the first modern statisticalmap. (This map dates from 1826 cite[Plate 1, vol. 2]{Dupin:1827} according to Robinsoncite[p. 232]{Robinson:1982}, rather than 1819 according to Funkhousercite{Funkhouser:1937})

This entry is now deprecated.

References:

Dupin:1826

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An increasing number of scientific publications begin to contain graphs and diagramswhich describe, but do not analyze, natural phenomena (magnetic variation, weather,tides, etc.)

References:

none

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Ogive or cumulative frequency curve, inhabitants of Paris by age groupings (shows thenumber of inhabitants of Paris per 10,000 in 1817 who were of a given age or over. Thename "ogive'' is due to Galton.)

Fourier biography

1822 Charles Babbage Mechanical calculating device

Babbage Difference Engine

Babbage portrait

1825 Benjamin Gompertz Gompertz curve

Gompertz portrait

1826 Baron Pierre Charles Dupin Choropleth map

References:

Fourier:1821

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Mechanical device for calculating mathematical tables (the Difference Engine) [Thebeginnings of computing as we know it today. The Difference Engine was steam-powered,and the size of a locomotive.]

Babbage biography

References:

none

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Gompertz curve, derived to describe expected mortality statistics for a population oforganisms whose probability of death increases as a function of time

Gompertz biography

The Gompertz model

Gompertz showed that the mortality rate increases in a geometric progression. Hence, when death rates are plotted on a logarithmic scale, a straight line known as theGompertz function is obtained. The slope of the Gompertz function line indicates the rate of actuarial ageing. The differences in longevity between species are theresult primarily of differences in the rate of ageing and are therefore expressed in differences in slope of the Gompertz function.

References:

Gompertz:1832

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Dupin choropleth map of literacy inFrance

Dupin cartogram map of France

Dupin portrait

1827 Joseph Nicephore Niépce 1st photograph

Niepce photo, Point de vue du Gras

Niepce portrait

1828 Adolphe Quetelet Mortality curves

Quetelet portrait

Choropleth map with shadings from black to white (distribution and intensity of illiteracyin France), the first (unclassed) choropleth map, and perhaps the first modern statisticalmap

Dupin biography

References:

Dupin:1826

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First successful photograph produced (an 8-hour exposure). [A type of asphalt (bitumenof Judea) was coated on metal plates. After exposure it was washed in solvents, the lightareas were shown by the bitumen, dark areas by bare metal. Exposed to iodine, the platedarkened in the shadowed areas.]

University of Texas exhibition: The first photo

Catalog of Niepce heliographies

References:

none

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Mortality curves drawn from empirical data (for Belgium and France)

Quetelet biography

Quetelet web site

References:

Quetelet:1828

1829 André-Michel Guerry Polar-area charts

Guerry's polar diagrams

Guerry barcharts and polar diagrams

1829 Adriano Balbi, André-Michel Guerry Comparative choropleth map

Balbi-Guerry maps

1830 to 1835 Michael Faraday Natural phenomena

Faraday's iron filing diagrammes, theearliest ever made

Faraday portrait

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Polar-area charts (predating those by Florence Nightingale cite{Nightingale:1857}),showing frequency of events for cyclic phenomena

The plate shows six polar diagrams for daily phenomena: direction of the wind in 8 sectors, births and deathsby hour of theday.

References:

Guerry:1829

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The first comparative choropleth thematic maps, showing crimes against persons andcrimes against property in relation to level of instruction by departments in France

References:

BalbiGuerry:1829 Guerry:1832

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Graphical analysis of natural phenomena begins to appear on a regular basis in scientificpublications, particularly in England. For example, in 1832, Faraday proposes pictorialrepresentation of electric and magnetic lines of force.

Faraday biography with portraits

Faraday biography

References:

none

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1830 Armand Joseph Frère de Montizon 1st dot map of population

Dot map of population of France,1830

1832 John Frederick W. Herschel Curve-fitting

Herschel's graph of position vs timefor $gamma$; Virginis

Derived double-orbit for $gamma$Virginis

Herschel portrait

1833 André Michel Guerry Moral statistics

Guerry's map of crimes againstpersons in France

Guerry's map of crimes againstproperty in France

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First simple dot map of population by department, 1 dot = 10,000 people

References:

Montizon:1830

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Fitting a smoothed curve to a scatterplot, advocacy of graph paper and graphical methodsas standard tools of science. ["The process by which I propose to accomplish this is oneessentially graphical; by which term I understand not a mere substitution of geometricalconstruction and measurement for numerical calculation, but one which has for its objectto perform that which no system of calculation can possibly do, by bringing in the aid ofthe eye and hand to guide the judgment, in a case where judgment only, and notcalculation, can be of any avail.'' (p. 178)]

John Fredrick Herschel biography (French)

Herschel biography

Herschel images

See for some history of "squared paper.''

References:

Herschel:1833 Hankins:2006 BrockPrice:1980

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The first comprehensive analysis of data on "moral statistics'' (crimes, suicide, literacy,etc.) shown on thematic unclassed choropleth maps; bar charts (of crime, by agegroupings and months)

Reference to English translation

Guerry's map of "instruction'' inFrance

Guerry's map of suicides

1833 André Michel Guerry Graphical rank lists

1833 George Julius Poulett Scrope Population density

1833 Charles Wheatstone Stereoscope

Charles Wheatstone portrait

References:

Guerry:1833

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Graphical rank lists, with lines showing shifts in rank order between categories (rank of types of crime from one age group to the next)

References:

Guerry:1833

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First classed depiction of population density on a world map (using three broad classes in a dasymetric map)

Wikipedia: Scrope biography

Scrope biography

References:

Scrope:1833

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Invention of the stereoscope, revealing the dependence of visual depth perception uponbinocular vision, and allowing production of stereoscopic images

Wheatstone biography

Wheatstone uses paper tape to store data

Stereoscopic photography

1836 Adolphe d' Angeville Industry and population

Population of France, Carte 1

Taille, Carte 5

1836 Alexandre Jean Baptiste Parent-Duchatelet Mapping prostitutes in Paris

Duchatelet's map showing thedistribution of prostitutes in Paris

Duchatelet's map showing the originsof prostitutes in Paris

1837 Henry Drury Harness 1st flow map

Harness flow map of transportationof passengers in Ireland

In 1857, Wheatstone also introduced the first application of paper tapes as a medium for the preparation, storage, and transmission of data.

References:

none

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First broad and general application of principles of graphic representation to nationalindustrial and population data

Angeville biography

References:

Angeville:1836 Dainville:1970

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Extensive data tabulation, time series, and mapping of prostitutes in Paris

English translation of On prostitution in the city of Paris

References:

Parent-Duchatelet:1836

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First published flow maps, showing transportation by means of shaded lines, widthsproportional to amount (passengers)

Harness portrait

1838 Heinrich Berghaus Physical atlas

Charts showing temperaturethroughout the world

World map showing the tradewinds

Full colour "ideal'' geologic cross-section

Berghaus map icon

1839 Pierre-François Verhulst Logistic curve

Verhulst portrait

References:

Harness:1837 Robinson:1955

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Physical atlas of the distribution of plants, animals, climate, etc., one of the mostextensive and detailed thematic atlases; most of the maps contained tables, graphs,pictorial profiles of distributions over altitude, and other visual accompanyments

Berghaus biography

Berghaus map, high-res

References:

Berghaus:1838

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Development of the logistic curve, $ y = k / (1 + C e^)$, to describe the growth of humanpopulations

Verhulst bio

Pierre-Francois Verhulst et la loi logistique de la population

Verhulst showed that forces which tend to prevent a population growth grow in proportion to the ratio of theexcess population to the total population. (reference from Funkhouser:1937, p.363 fn(46)

References:

Quetelet:1838

1839 Louis Jacques Mandé Daguerre Photographic process

Daguerre, Parisian Boulevard

1843 Léon Lalanne Contour map of 3D table

Lalanne contour diagram

Lalanne contour diagram

1843 Léon Lalanne Polar coordinates

Lalanne windrose diagram

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Invention of the first practical photographic process, using coated plates of metal andglass

The Daguerrian Society (with comprehensive links and images)

The first daguerrotype of the disk of the Sun was obtained by two physicists in Paris in 1845 seeandsubsequent improvements in emulsion speeds had enormous repercussions for astronomy.

References:

GribbinGribbin:2000

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Contour map of a 3D table, temperature x hour x month (published in 1845)

Lalanne biography

References:

Lalanne:1845

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Use of polar coordinates in a graph(frequency of wind directions)

References:

Lalanne:1845

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1843 Alexander Keith Johnston, James Cowles Pritchard Ethnographic maps

Ethnographical map of Africa

Ethnographical map of Europe

Ethnographical map of Europe

James Cowles Prichard portrait

1844 Charles Joseph Minard Tableau-graphique

Minard Tableau graphique

1846 Léon Lalanne Logarithmic grid

Lalanne's Universal Calculator

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Ethnographic maps showing distribution of ethnic groups throughout the world

Pritchard biography

Johnston bio and portrait (pdf)

Johnston biography

References:

Prichard:1843 Johnston:1843

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"Tableau-graphique'' showing transportation of commercial traffic by variable-width(distance), divided bars (height $sim$ amount), area $sim$ cost of transport [An earlyform of the mosaic plot.]

Minard biography

References:

Minard:1844 Dainville:1970 Robinson:1967

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Logarithmic grid (the first log-log plot, as a nomogram for showing products from thefactors)

See also: Lalanne's ambitious Universal Calculatorcombining logarithmic and trigonometric calculations(described by Tourn{è

Lalanne nomogram icon

Lalanne nomogram image

1846 Adolphe Quetelet Normal curve

Quetelet's graph of a binomialdistribution, 999 trials

References:

Lalanne:1846 Lalanne:1844 Tournes:2000

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Results of sampling from urns shown as symmetrical histograms, with limiting "curve ofpossibility'' (later called the normal curve)

References:

Quetelet:1846

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This web version is dedicated to Arthur H. Robinson (1915-2004), who inspired and encouraged our interest; to Antoine de Falguerolles, who initiated it, and to les Chevaliers des Album deStatistique Graphique, who supported it with interest, enthusiasm, and resources. In particular, Gilles Palsky, Antoine de Falguerolles, Antony Unwin and Ruddy Ostermann contributed

important images and background information. This work is supported by the National Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, Grant OGP0138748.

Citations: References to information or images obtained from this web site should be cited as follows: Friendly, M. & Denis, D. J. (2001). Milestones in the history of thematic cartography, statistical graphics, and data visualization. Web document, http://www.datavis.ca/milestones/.

Accessed: June 1, 2012

Copyright © 2001-2009 Michael FriendlyRSS