John Graunt's publication of 'Natural and Political Observations Made upon the Bills of Mortality' in 1662 marked the beginning of demography as a scientific discipline. By analyzing death data from London, Graunt pioneered the field of public health statistics and provided insights into population trends and health outcomes. His work laid the groundwork for future studies in epidemiology and public health.

John Graunt's launch of demography with his Bills of Mortality in 1662 sparked a cultural fascination with statistics and human mortality. This preoccupation inspired Metaphysical and Restoration poets to reflect on the collective experience of death, weaving numerical certainty into their explorations of existence.