Harold Jeffreys

British geophysicist and statistician (1891–1989)
Person human Q379999
Press Enter · cited answer in seconds

Harold Jeffreys

Summary

Harold Jeffreys is a human[1]. He was born in Fatfield[2]. He was born on April 22, 1891[3]. He passed away in Cambridge[4]. He died on March 18, 1989[5]. He worked as a mathematician[6], astronomer[7], statistician[8], and seismologist[9]. He ranks in the top 0.73% of human entities by monthly Wikipedia readership (256 views/month, #7,253 of 1,000,298).[10]

Key Facts

  • Harold Jeffreys's place of birth was Fatfield[2].
  • Born in England[11], Harold Jeffreys…
  • Harold Jeffreys died in Cambridge[4].
  • Harold Jeffreys was born on April 22, 1891[3].
  • Harold Jeffreys died on March 18, 1989[5].
  • Harold Jeffreys is buried at Church of St Helen[12].
  • Harold Jeffreys was married to Bertha Swirles[13].
  • Harold Jeffreys held citizenship in United Kingdom[14].
  • Harold Jeffreys's professions included mathematician[6].
  • Harold Jeffreys's professions included astronomer[7].
  • Harold Jeffreys worked as a statistician[8].
  • Harold Jeffreys's professions included seismologist[9].
  • Harold Jeffreys's field of work was statistics[15].
  • Harold Jeffreys's field of work was geophysics[16].
  • Harold Jeffreys's field of work was astronomy[17].
  • Harold Jeffreys held the position of Plumian Professor of Astronomy and Experimental Philosophy[18].
  • Harold Jeffreys was employed by University of Cambridge[19].
  • Among Harold Jeffreys's employers was Cavendish Laboratory[20].
  • Among Harold Jeffreys's employers was Met Office[21].
  • Harold Jeffreys was educated at Durham University[22].
  • Harold Jeffreys was educated at St John's College[23].
  • Harold Jeffreys's education included a stint at Newcastle University[24].
  • Harold Jeffreys was educated at University of Cambridge[25].
  • Harold Jeffreys's doctoral advisor was H. F. Baker[26].
  • A notable work attributed to Harold Jeffreys is Jeffreys number[27].

Body

Origins and Family

Recorded place of birth include Fatfield[2], a suburb[28], in United Kingdom[29] and England[11], a constituent country of the United Kingdom[30], in United Kingdom[31], founded in 0927[32]. Harold Jeffreys was born on April 22, 1891[3].

Education

Educated at Durham University[22], a collegiate university[33], in United Kingdom[34], founded in 1832[35], headquartered in Durham[36]; St John's College[23], a college of the University of Cambridge[37], in United Kingdom[38], founded in 1511[39]; Newcastle University[24], a university[40], in United Kingdom[41], founded in 1963[42], headquartered in Newcastle upon Tyne[43]; and University of Cambridge[25], a collegiate university[44], in United Kingdom[45], founded in 1209[46], headquartered in Cambridge[47]. Harold Jeffreys's doctoral advisor was H. F. Baker[26].

Career and Affiliations

Recorded occupations include mathematician[6], astronomer[7], statistician[8], and seismologist[9]. Fields of work include statistics[15], an academic major[48]; geophysics[16], a branch of science[49]; and astronomy[17], a branch of science[50]. Employers include University of Cambridge[19], a collegiate university[51], in United Kingdom[52], founded in 1209[53], headquartered in Cambridge[54]; Cavendish Laboratory[20], an institute[55], in United Kingdom[56], founded in 1874[57]; and Met Office[21], a meteorological service[58], in United Kingdom[59], founded in 1854[60], headquartered in Exeter[61]. Harold Jeffreys held the position of Plumian Professor of Astronomy and Experimental Philosophy[18]. Doctoral students include Hermann Bondi[62], V. S. Huzurbazar[63], Sydney Goldstein[64], Ernest Ralph Lapwood[65], Michael S. Longuet-Higgins[66], and Andrew Young[67].

Works and Contributions

Notable works include Jeffreys number[27] and Jeffreys prior[68]. Things named for Harold Jeffreys include Jeffreys prior[69], a mathematical concept[70].

Recognition

Awards received include Copley Medal[71], a medallion[72], in United Kingdom[73], founded in 1731[74]; Royal Medal[75], a science award[76], in United Kingdom[77], founded in 1826[78]; Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society[79], a science award[80], in United Kingdom[81], founded in 1824[82]; Vetlesen Prize[83], a science award[84], in United States[85], founded in 1959[86]; William Bowie Medal[87], a geophysics award[88], in United States[89], founded in 1939[90]; and Murchison Medal[91].

Personal Life

Among Harold Jeffreys's spouses was Bertha Swirles[13].

Death and Burial

Harold Jeffreys died on March 18, 1989[5]. He passed away in Cambridge[4]. Burial took place at Church of St Helen[12].

Why It Matters

Harold Jeffreys ranks in the top 0.73% of human entities by monthly Wikipedia readership (256 views/month, #7,253 of 1,000,298).[10] He has Wikipedia articles in 20 language editions, a strong signal of global cultural recognition.[92] He is known by 11 alternative names across languages and contexts.[93]

Entities named for him include Jeffreys prior[69], a mathematical concept[70].

His notable doctoral advisees include Hermann Bondi[94], a mathematician[95], 1919–2005[96], of United Kingdom[97], awarded the Fellow of the Royal Society[98]; Sydney Goldstein[99], a mathematician[100], 1903–1989[101], of United Kingdom[102], awarded the Fellow of the Royal Society[103], specialised in mathematics[104]; and Michael S. Longuet-Higgins[105], a mathematician[106], 1925–2016[107], of United Kingdom[108], awarded the Fellow of the Royal Society[109].

FAQs

Where was Harold Jeffreys born?

Harold Jeffreys's place of birth was Fatfield[2].

Where did Harold Jeffreys die?

Harold Jeffreys passed away in Cambridge[4].

Who was Harold Jeffreys married to?

Harold Jeffreys's spouses include Bertha Swirles[13].

What did Harold Jeffreys do for work?

Harold Jeffreys worked as mathematician[6], astronomer[7], statistician[8], and seismologist[9].

Where did Harold Jeffreys go to school?

Harold Jeffreys was educated at Durham University[22], St John's College[23], Newcastle University[24], and University of Cambridge[25].

What awards did Harold Jeffreys receive?

Honors received include Copley Medal[71], Royal Medal[75], Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society[79], and Vetlesen Prize[83].

References

Programmatic citations — every numbered marker resolves to a verifiable graph row below.

Direct Wikidata claims

  1. [2] . MacTutor History of Mathematics archive. wikidata.org.
  2. [11] . wikidata.org.
  3. [4] . Integrated Authority File. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  4. [13] . MacTutor History of Mathematics archive. wikidata.org.
  5. [14] . wikidata.org.
  6. [18] . Sir Harold Jeffreys, 2 April 1891 - 18 March 1989. royalsocietypublishing.org. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  7. [22] . MacTutor History of Mathematics archive. wikidata.org.
  8. [23] . MacTutor History of Mathematics archive. wikidata.org.
  9. [24] . Mathematics Genealogy Project. wikidata.org.
  10. [25] . Mathematics Genealogy Project. wikidata.org.
  11. [15] . wikidata.org.
  12. [16] . wikidata.org.
  13. [17] . wikidata.org.
  14. [6] . wikidata.org.
  15. [7] . wikidata.org.
  16. [8] . wikidata.org.
  17. [9] . wikidata.org.
  18. [19] . MacTutor History of Mathematics archive. royalsocietypublishing.org. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  19. [20] . MacTutor History of Mathematics archive. wikidata.org.
  20. [21] . MacTutor History of Mathematics archive. wikidata.org.
  21. [12] . Find a Grave. wikidata.org.
  22. [71] . Sir Harold Jeffreys, 2 April 1891 - 18 March 1989. Retrieved . docs.google.com. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  23. [75] . Sir Harold Jeffreys, 2 April 1891 - 18 March 1989. royalsocietypublishing.org. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  24. [79] . Sir Harold Jeffreys, 2 April 1891 - 18 March 1989. royalsocietypublishing.org. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  25. [83] . Sir Harold Jeffreys, 2 April 1891 - 18 March 1989. royalsocietypublishing.org. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  26. [87] . Sir Harold Jeffreys, 2 April 1891 - 18 March 1989. honors.agu.org. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  27. [91] . Sir Harold Jeffreys, 2 April 1891 - 18 March 1989. royalsocietypublishing.org. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  28. [26] . Mathematics Genealogy Project. wikidata.org.
  29. [62] . Mathematics Genealogy Project. wikidata.org.
  30. [63] . Mathematics Genealogy Project. wikidata.org.
  31. [64] . Mathematics Genealogy Project. wikidata.org.
  32. [65] . Mathematics Genealogy Project. wikidata.org.
  33. [66] . Mathematics Genealogy Project. wikidata.org.
  34. [67] . Mathematics Genealogy Project. wikidata.org.
  35. [3] . Integrated Authority File. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  36. [5] . Integrated Authority File. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  37. [27] . wikidata.org.
  38. [68] . wikidata.org.

Inverse relationships (entities pointing at this one)

  1. [94] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  2. [99] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  3. [105] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  4. [69] . wikidata.org. → on this site

Inline context (facts about related entities)

  1. [28] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  2. [29] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  3. [30] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  4. [31] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  5. [32] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  6. [33] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  7. [34] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  8. [35] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  9. [36] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  10. [37] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  11. [38] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  12. [39] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  13. [40] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  14. [41] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  15. [42] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  16. [43] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  17. [44] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  18. [45] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  19. [46] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  20. [47] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  21. [48] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  22. [49] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  23. [50] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  24. [51] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  25. [52] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  26. [53] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  27. [54] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  28. [55] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  29. [56] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  30. [57] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  31. [58] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  32. [59] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  33. [60] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  34. [61] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  35. [72] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  36. [73] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  37. [74] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  38. [76] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  39. [77] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  40. [78] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  41. [80] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  42. [81] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  43. [82] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  44. [84] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  45. [85] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  46. [86] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  47. [88] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  48. [89] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  49. [90] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  50. [95] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  51. [96] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  52. [97] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  53. [98] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  54. [100] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  55. [101] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  56. [102] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  57. [103] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  58. [104] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  59. [106] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  60. [107] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  61. [108] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  62. [109] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  63. [70] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site

Class ancestry

  1. [1] . Wikidata. wikidata.org.

Aggregate / graph-position facts

  1. [10] . Wikimedia Foundation. dumps.wikimedia.org.
  2. [92] . Wikidata sitelinks. wikidata.org.
  3. [93] . Wikidata aliases. wikidata.org.

📑 Cite this page

Use these citations when quoting this entity in research, articles, AI prompts, or wherever provenance matters. We aggregate Wikidata + Wikipedia + authoritative open-data sources; the stitched, scored, cross-referenced view is what 4ort.xyz contributes.

APA 4ort.xyz Knowledge Graph. (2026). Harold Jeffreys. Retrieved April 10, 2026, from https://4ort.xyz/entity/harold-jeffreys
MLA “Harold Jeffreys.” 4ort.xyz Knowledge Graph, 4ort.xyz, 10 Apr. 2026, https://4ort.xyz/entity/harold-jeffreys.
BibTeX @misc{4ortxyz_harold-jeffreys_2026, author = {{4ort.xyz Knowledge Graph}}, title = {{Harold Jeffreys}}, year = {2026}, url = {https://4ort.xyz/entity/harold-jeffreys}, note = {Accessed: 2026-04-10}}
LLM prompt According to 4ort.xyz Knowledge Graph (aggregator of Wikidata, Wikipedia, and authoritative open-data sources): Harold Jeffreys — https://4ort.xyz/entity/harold-jeffreys (retrieved 2026-04-10)

Canonical URL: https://4ort.xyz/entity/harold-jeffreys · Last refreshed:

Edit History

Rolling log of changes to this entity's Wikidata record. Values shown reflect the current state of each edited property — follow the history link to see the precise diff for any edit.

  1. 6d ago · Epìdosis · 2026-05-20 view diff on Wikidata ↗
    Notable work Jeffreys number, Jeffreys prior
    Given name Harold
    Field of work statistics, geophysics, astronomy
    Doctoral student Hermann Bondi, V. S. Huzurbazar, Sydney Goldstein +6
    + 31 other properties edited (see Wikidata diff for full list)
    "/* wbeditentity-update:0| */ QuickStatements 3.0 [[:toollabs:qs-dev/batch/32085|batch #32085]]: import P21 and P106 from GND (27)"
Live feed via Wikidata EventStreams. New edits appear within minutes of being made on Wikidata.