Robert Wedderburn (statistician)


Robert William Maclagan Wedderburn was a Scottish statistician who worked at the Rothamsted Experimental Station. He was co-developer, with John Nelder, of the generalized linear model methodology,
and then expanded this subject to develop the idea of quasi-likelihood.
Wedderburn was born in Edinburgh, where he attended Fettes College, then studied for a degree and a diploma in statistics at the University of Cambridge. He died aged 28 of anaphylactic shock from an insect bite while on a canal holiday.
"His colleagues remember him as someone of engaging diffidence, who would nonetheless hold his own in argument when he was sure he was right," wrote John Nelder in Wedderburn's obituary.

Works

Wedderburn published a number of papers.' R. A. Kempton and R. W. M. Wedderburn 1978. Biometrics. 34, pp. 25-37.
  • ' A. H. Andrews and R. W. M. Wedderburn 1977. British Veterinary Journal. 133, pp. 543-547.' R. W. M. Wedderburn 1976. Biometrika. 63, pp. 27-32.
  • ' D. S. Jenkinson, D. S. Powlson and R. W. M. Wedderburn 1976. Soil Biology and Biochemistry. 8, pp. 189-202.' A. E. Johnston and R. W. M. Wedderburn 1975. Rothamsted Experimental Station Report. 2, pp. 79-101.
  • ' I. C. R. Holford, R. W. M. Wedderburn and G. E. G. Mattingly 1974. Journal of Soil Science. 25, pp. 242-255.Generalized linear-models specified in terms of constraints. R. W. M. Wedderburn 1974. Journal of the Royal Statistical Society, Series B. 36, pp. 449-454.' R. W. M. Wedderburn 1974. Biometrika. 61, pp. 439-447.
  • ' A. H. Andrews and R. W. M. Wedderburn 1973. British Veterinary Journal. 129, pp. 512-517.' F. B. Leech and R. W. M. Wedderburn 1972. Epidemiology & Infection. 70, pp. 409-414.
  • ' J. A. Nelder and R. W. M. Wedderburn 1972. Journal of the Royal Statistical Society, Series A. 135, pp. 370-384.Genstat: a general statistics program. N. G. Alvey, J. C. Gower, F. B. Lauckner, P. K. Leech, J. A. Nelder, C. E. Rogers, G. J. S. Ross, H. R. Simpson, R. W. M. Wedderburn and G. N. Wilkinson 1970. Rothamsted Experimental Station, Harpenden.