David Cox (statistician)

Nci-vol-8182-300 david cox

David Cox (15 July 1924 – 18 January 2022) was a British statistician and professor known for his significant contributions to the field of statistics. He is particularly renowned for developing the Cox proportional hazards model, a fundamental method in the analysis of survival data.

Early Life and Education

David Roxbee Cox was born in Birmingham, England. He attended King Edward's School, Birmingham and later studied at St John's College, Cambridge, where he earned a degree in mathematics.

Career

Cox began his career at the Royal Aircraft Establishment during World War II, where he worked on statistical problems related to aircraft and missile testing. After the war, he joined the Wool Industries Research Association in Leeds, where he worked on statistical methods for textile research.

In 1950, Cox moved to the University of Cambridge as a lecturer in statistics. He later held positions at Birkbeck College, London, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In 1966, he became a professor at Imperial College London, where he remained until 1988. He then joined Nuffield College, Oxford, where he continued his research and teaching until his retirement.

Contributions to Statistics

Cox made numerous contributions to the field of statistics, but he is best known for the Cox proportional hazards model, introduced in 1972. This model is widely used in the analysis of survival data and has applications in various fields, including medicine, engineering, and economics.

He also made significant contributions to the theory of design of experiments, statistical inference, and time series analysis. His work has had a profound impact on both theoretical and applied statistics.

Awards and Honors

David Cox received numerous awards and honors throughout his career, including:

• The Guy Medal in Gold from the Royal Statistical Society in 1973.
• The Weldon Memorial Prize from the University of Oxford in 1990.
• The Copley Medal from the Royal Society in 2010.

He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS) in 1973 and was knighted in 1985 for his services to statistics.

Personal Life

Cox was married to Joyce Drummond in 1947, and they had four children. He was known for his modesty and dedication to his work.

Legacy

David Cox's contributions to statistics have left a lasting legacy. The Cox proportional hazards model remains a cornerstone in the analysis of survival data, and his work continues to influence statisticians and researchers worldwide.

See Also

• Cox proportional hazards model
• Survival analysis
• Design of experiments
• Statistical inference
• Time series analysis