Description: The author has been gathering facts about actuaries who were active in North America before the Actuarial Society of America was founded in 1889. The purpose of this exercise is to compile a definitive history of the North American actuarial profession in time for the Society of Actuaries centennial year, 1989. Furthermore, the author encourages all Society members to take a personal interest in the history project, both for the pleasure it offers and because of its bearing upon observance of the fundamental values that justify actuaries in calling theirs a profession.