We often think of data analytics as the hip, new, modern industry, but here’s the truth: data analysts have been around for 100+ years. In fact, one man used data analytics to save London in 1854 from a crushing disease. Here’s how he did it 👇

It’s 1854, and London is in chaos.

A deadly cholera outbreak has claimed over 500 lives, sending people fleeing in fear. Back then, no one knew how cholera spread—or how to stop it.

John Snow, a local doctor determined to save his friends and community, knew that if he wanted to save the town, he needed to understand the problem. So he started by getting his hands dirty with some on-the-ground data collection.

He listed everyone who had contracted and succumbed to cholera and interviewed their family members, asking crucial questions about where they lived and what they had recently done.

After collecting the data, he did something revolutionary. He plotted the data on a map.

He drew a simple black bar at each address where some one had contracted and died from the disease. And when he looked at his map, he discovered something...

The vast majority of those who had died, lived very close to the Broad Street Water Pump.

He realized the pump might have something to do with the outbreak!

Armed with his data visualization, John sprinted to the city council & presented his findings. The council agreed to shut down the pump and the results were immediate—the outbreak slowed.

Lives were saved and London began to recover.

Ready to save lives with data like John Snow? Join The Accelerator Program to get started.