Creators
David Galbraith

This document describes a vocabulary for describing biographical information about people, both living and dead.

The BIO vocabulary contains terms useful for finding out more about people and their backgrounds and has some cross-over into genealogical information. The approach taken is to describe a person's life as a series of interconnected key events, around which other information can be woven. This vocabulary defines the event framework and supplies a set of core event types that cover many use cases, but it is expected that it will be extended in other vocabularies to suit their needs. The intention of this vocabulary is to describe biographical events of people and this intention carries through to the definitions of the properties and classes which are person-centric rather than neutral. For example the Employment event puts the person being employed as the principal agent in the event rather than the employer.

The BIO vocabulary defines a number of core classes and properties for describing biographical information:



Figure: Biography Vocabulary Core Classes (PNG version, SVG version)

At its heart the BIO vocabulary is concerned with people, their relationships and the events in their lives. Together these can be used to build up a narrative of a person's life and their interactions with other people, organizations and the world around them. Events bound intervals of time that may be associated with particular relationships between people and groups or organisations. Many different types of life event are defined in this vocabulary including the obvious Birth, Marriage and Death but also Coronation, Performance and even Murder. These events are not intended to be fully comprehensive but are representative of the types of events associated with biographical material. Currently the relationship segment of the vocabulary is underspecified with only a generic Relationship class available. It is envisaged that many types of relationship such as families, employments and ownerships will be specified in the future.

The sequence of events and intervals build a timeline of history against which people and their relationships can be placed. The aim is to enable simple forms of genealogical reasoning such as determining whether a child was born out of wedlock or the location of a family given the fact one of their children was attending a particular school. Events are ordered in time by relating them to one another and to abstract intervals of time:



Figure: Biography Vocabulary Timelines(PNG version, SVG version)

Please see https://github.com/iand/vocab-bio for the master version of this vocabulary.

Please direct feedback on this document to the FOAF-DEV mailing list"

Copyright © 2002-2010 Ian Davis and David Galbraith

History

Namespace

The URI for this vocabulary is

http://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/

When abbreviating terms the suggested prefix is bio

Each class or property in the vocabulary has a URI constructed by appending a term name to the vocabulary URI. For example:

http://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/Ordination

Terms Grouped by Theme

Properties of a person: One-line bio, Biography, Key Words, Father, Mother, Child, Life Event, Birth Event and Death Event

Types of event: Event, Individual Event, Group Event, Accession, Adoption, Annulment, Assassination, Baptism, BarMitzvah, BasMitzvah, Birth, Burial, Change of Position, Coronation, Cremation, Death, Demotion, Dismissal, Divorce, Emigration, Employment, Execution, Enrolment, Funeral, Graduation, Imprisonment, Inauguration, Investiture, Marriage, Murder, Change of Name, Naturalization, Ordination, Promotion, Redundancy, Resignation and Retirement

Properties of an event: Date, Place, State and Position

Properties that relate an event to an agent: Agent, Parent, Employer, Officiator, Organization, Principal, Partner, Witness and Spectator

Properties that relate an event to another event: Concurrent Event, Following Event, Preceding Event, Immediately Following Event and Immediately Preceding Event

Terms Summary

An alphabetical list of all terms defined in this schema.

TermURIDescription
Accessionhttp://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/AccessionThe event of a person succeeding to the right to hold regal power
Adoptionhttp://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/AdoptionThe event of creating of a legal parent/child relationship that does not exist biologically
Agenthttp://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/agentA person, organization or group that plays a role in an event
Agent Relationshiphttp://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/RelationshipA particular type of connection existing between people, groups or organizations related to or having dealings with each other
Annulmenthttp://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/AnnulmentThe event of declaring a marriage void from the beginning as though it never existed
Assassinationhttp://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/AssassinationThe event of a person being deliberately targeted and killed
Baptismhttp://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/BaptismThe ceremonial event held to admit a person to membership of a Christian church
BarMitzvahhttp://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/BarMitzvahThe ceremonial event held when a Jewish boy reaches age 13
BasMitzvahhttp://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/BasMitzvahThe ceremonial event held when a Jewish girl reaching age 13, also known as "Bat Mitzvah
Biographyhttp://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/biographyAn extended description or account of someone's life
Birthhttp://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/BirthThe event of a person entering into life
Birth Eventhttp://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/birthAn birth event associated with a person, group or organization
Burialhttp://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/BurialThe event of interring the remains of a person's body into the ground
Change of Namehttp://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/NameChangeThe event of a person changing their name
Change of Positionhttp://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/PositionChangeThe event of a person changing the position they hold with an employer
Childhttp://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/childA biological child of a person
Concluding Eventhttp://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/concludingEventAn event that marks the end of an interval and/or relationship
Concurrent Eventhttp://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/concurrentEventAn event that occurs while this event is occurring
Coronationhttp://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/CoronationThe ceremonial event of a person being invested with regal power to become a monarch
Cremationhttp://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/CremationThe event of disposing of the remains of a person's body by fire
Datehttp://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/dateThe date at which an event occurred
Deathhttp://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/DeathThe event of a person's life ending
Death Eventhttp://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/deathAn death event associated with a person, group or organization
Demotionhttp://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/DemotionThe event of a person changing the position they hold with an employer to one with less importance or responsibility
Disbandinghttp://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/DisbandingThe event of a group or organization being disbanded
Dismissalhttp://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/DismissalThe event of a person involuntarily giving up their office or position
Divorcehttp://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/DivorceThe event of legally dissolving a marriage
Emigrationhttp://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/EmigrationThe event of a person leaving their homeland with the intent of residing elsewhere
Employerhttp://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/employerAn agent that is involved in an event as an employer
Employmenthttp://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/EmploymentThe event of a person entering an occupational relationship with an employer
Enrolmenthttp://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/EnrolmentThe event of a person initiating attendence to a school or other place of learning
Eventhttp://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/EventAn event is an occurrence that brings about a change in the state of affairs for one or more people and/or other agents
Event Intervalhttp://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/eventIntervalThe interval during which the event occurs
Executionhttp://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/ExecutionThe event of a person being deliberately killed as punishment
Fatherhttp://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/fatherThe biological father of a person, also known as the genitor
Following Eventhttp://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/followingEventAn event that starts at some time after this event
Formationhttp://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/FormationThe event of a group or organization coming into being
Funeralhttp://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/FuneralThe event of marking a person's death with a ceremony
Graduationhttp://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/GraduationThe event of a person being awarded educational diplomas or degrees
Group Eventhttp://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/GroupEventA type of event that is principally about one or more agents and their partnership
Immediately Following Eventhttp://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/immediatelyFollowingEventAn event that starts immediately after this event
Immediately Preceding Eventhttp://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/immediatelyPrecedingEventAn event that occurs and concludes immediately before this event
Imprisonmenthttp://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/ImprisonmentThe event of a person being detained in a jail or prison
Inaugurationhttp://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/InaugurationThe ceremonial event marking the beginning of a person's term of office as a leader
Individual Eventhttp://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/IndividualEventA type of event that is principally about a single person, group or organization
Initiating Eventhttp://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/initiatingEventAn event that marks the start of an interval and/or relationship
Intervalhttp://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/IntervalA extended interval of time related to a particular state of affairs, such as the lifespan of a person or a period of employment
Investiturehttp://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/InvestitureThe ceremonial event of a person taking a public office or honour
Key Wordshttp://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/keywordsA comma delimited list of key words that describe a person
Life Eventhttp://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/eventAn event associated with a person, group or organization
Marriagehttp://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/MarriageThe event of creating uniting the participants into a new family unit, sometimes accompanied by a formal wedding ceremony
Motherhttp://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/motherThe biological mother of a person, also known as the genetrix
Murderhttp://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/MurderThe event of a person being killed unlawfully with intent by the killer
Naturalizationhttp://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/NaturalizationThe event of a person obtaining citizenship
Officiatorhttp://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/officiatorA person that officiates at a ceremonial event
One-line biohttp://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/olbA one-line biography of the person
Ordinationhttp://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/OrdinationThe ceremonial event held when a person receives authority to act in religious matters
Organizationhttp://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/organizationAn organization that plays a role in an event
Parenthttp://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/parentA person that takes the parent role in an event
Participanthttp://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/participantA person, group or organization that participates in a relationship for some time
Partnerhttp://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/partnerA person that is involved in a event as a partner in a relationship
Performancehttp://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/PerformanceThe event of an individual or a group of performers performing
Placehttp://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/placeThe place at which an event occurred
Positionhttp://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/positionThe employment position or public office involved in an event
Preceding Eventhttp://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/precedingEventAn event that occurs and concludes at some time before this event
Principalhttp://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/principalA person that takes the primary and most important role in an event
Promotionhttp://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/PromotionThe event of a person changing the position they hold with an employer to one with more importance or responsibility
Redundancyhttp://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/RedundancyThe event of a person involuntarily giving up an office or position that is no longer needed
Relationshiphttp://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/relationshipA relationship that a person, group or organization participates in for some time
Relationship Intervalhttp://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/intervalThe interval during which the relationship persists
Resignationhttp://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/ResignationThe event of a person voluntarily giving up or quitting their office or position
Retirementhttp://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/RetirementThe event of a person exiting an occupational relationship with an employer after a qualifying time period
Spectatorhttp://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/spectatorA person that is present at and observes the occurrence of at least part of an event
Statehttp://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/stateA country or independent territory that is involved in an event
Witnesshttp://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/witnessA person that witnesses and can bear testimony to the occurrence of an event

Properties and Classes

Accession

URI: http://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/Accession

The event of a person succeeding to the right to hold regal power. This event is often automatic on the death of the previous monarch and is usually followed by a coronation event.

Semantics

Being a member of this class implies also being a member of Individual Event.

Status

Adoption

URI: http://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/Adoption

The event of creating of a legal parent/child relationship that does not exist biologically.

Semantics

Being a member of this class implies also being a member of Individual Event.

Status

Agent

URI: http://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/agent

A person, organization or group that plays a role in an event.

Semantics

Having this property implies being an Event. Every value of this property is a foaf:Agent. It is a sub-property of owl:differentFrom and the inverse of Life Event

Status

Other Information

Agents[en]

Agent Relationship

URI: http://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/Relationship

A particular type of connection existing between people, groups or organizations related to or having dealings with each other.

Semantics

Having Participant or Relationship Interval implies being a member of this class. Things are a member of this class if they are the value of Relationship. It is equivalent to rel:Relationship.

Status

Annulment

URI: http://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/Annulment

The event of declaring a marriage void from the beginning as though it never existed.

Semantics

Being a member of this class implies also being a member of Group Event.

Status

Assassination

URI: http://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/Assassination

The event of a person being deliberately targeted and killed.

Semantics

Being a member of this class implies also being a member of Murder.

Status

Baptism

URI: http://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/Baptism

The ceremonial event held to admit a person to membership of a Christian church.

Semantics

Being a member of this class implies also being a member of Individual Event.

Status

BarMitzvah

URI: http://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/BarMitzvah

The ceremonial event held when a Jewish boy reaches age 13.

Semantics

Being a member of this class implies also being a member of Individual Event.

Status

BasMitzvah

URI: http://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/BasMitzvah

The ceremonial event held when a Jewish girl reaching age 13, also known as "Bat Mitzvah."

Semantics

Being a member of this class implies also being a member of Individual Event.

Status

Biography

URI: http://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/biography

An extended description or account of someone's life.

Usage

It is expected that the value of this property is either a literal formatted with HTML markup or a pointer to an HTML document.

Semantics

Having this property implies being a foaf:Person.

Status

Birth

URI: http://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/Birth

The event of a person entering into life.

Semantics

Being a member of this class implies also being a member of Individual Event. Things are a member of this class if they are the value of Birth Event.

Examples

The birth of Albert Einstein
_:e a bio:Birth 
    ; dc:date "1879-03-14"
    ; bio:principal <http://dbpedia.org/resource/Albert_Einstein>
    ; bio:parent <http://dbpedia.org/resource/Pauline_Koch>
    ; bio:parent <http://dbpedia.org/resource/Hermann_Einstein>
    ; bio:place <http://dbpedia.org/resource/Ulm>
    .

Status

Birth Event

URI: http://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/birth

An birth event associated with a person, group or organization.

Semantics

Having this property implies being a foaf:Agent. Every value of this property is a Birth. It is a sub-property of Life Event and owl:differentFrom.

Status

Other Information

Birth Events[en]

Burial

URI: http://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/Burial

The event of interring the remains of a person's body into the ground.

Semantics

Being a member of this class implies also being a member of Individual Event.

Status

Change of Name

URI: http://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/NameChange

The event of a person changing their name.

Semantics

Being a member of this class implies also being a member of Individual Event.

Status

Change of Position

URI: http://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/PositionChange

The event of a person changing the position they hold with an employer.

Semantics

Being a member of this class implies also being a member of Individual Event.

Status

Child

URI: http://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/child

A biological child of a person.

Usage

Note that this is a strict definition of child that does not include adopted children, step-children or similar non-biological relationships. The Relationship vocabulary may be more suitable for broader types of parent/child relation.

Semantics

Having this property implies being a foaf:Person. Every value of this property is a foaf:Person. It is a sub-property of owl:differentFrom. It is equivalent to Is parent of.

Status

Other Information

Children[en]

Concluding Event

URI: http://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/concludingEvent

An event that marks the end of an interval and/or relationship. The event changes of the state of affairs that held during the interval. For example a period of study may be concluded by a Graduation event.

Semantics

Every value of this property is an Event. It is a sub-property of owl:differentFrom.

Status

Other Information

Concluding Event[en]

Concurrent Event

URI: http://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/concurrentEvent

An event that occurs while this event is occurring. The events need not start or conclude at the same times.

Semantics

This property is symmetrical. Having this property implies being an Event. Every value of this property is an Event. It is a sub-property of owl:differentFrom.

Status

Other Information

Concurrent Events[en]

Coronation

URI: http://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/Coronation

The ceremonial event of a person being invested with regal power to become a monarch.

Semantics

Being a member of this class implies also being a member of Individual Event.

Status

Cremation

URI: http://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/Cremation

The event of disposing of the remains of a person's body by fire.

Semantics

Being a member of this class implies also being a member of Individual Event.

Examples

The cremation of Albert Einstein
_:e a bio:Cremation 
    ; dc:date "1955-04-18"
    ; bio:principal <http://dbpedia.org/resource/Albert_Einstein>
    ; bio:place <http://dbpedia.org/resource/Princeton,_New_Jersey>
    .

Status

Date

URI: http://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/date

The date at which an event occurred.

Usage

The date should be formatted as specified in ISO8601. For example: 2003-03-15 corresponds to the 15th March 2003, and 2003-03-15T13:21-05:00 corresponds to 15th March 2003, 8:21 am, US Eastern Standard Time.

Semantics

Having this property implies being an Event. It is a sub-property of Date.

Status

Other Information

Dates[en]

Death

URI: http://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/Death

The event of a person's life ending.

Semantics

Being a member of this class implies also being a member of Individual Event. Things are a member of this class if they are the value of Death Event.

Examples

The death of Albert Einstein
_:e a bio:Death 
    ; dc:date "1955-04-18"
    ; bio:principal <http://dbpedia.org/resource/Albert_Einstein>
    ; bio:place <http://dbpedia.org/resource/Princeton,_New_Jersey>
    .

Status

Death Event

URI: http://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/death

An death event associated with a person, group or organization.

Semantics

Having this property implies being a foaf:Agent. Every value of this property is a Death. It is a sub-property of Life Event and owl:differentFrom.

Status

Other Information

Death Events[en]

Demotion

URI: http://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/Demotion

The event of a person changing the position they hold with an employer to one with less importance or responsibility.

Semantics

Being a member of this class implies also being a member of Change of Position.

Status

Disbanding

URI: http://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/Disbanding

The event of a group or organization being disbanded.

Semantics

Being a member of this class implies also being a member of Individual Event.

Status

Dismissal

URI: http://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/Dismissal

The event of a person involuntarily giving up their office or position. Dismissal is often perceived to be the employee's fault and may be considered disgraceful.

Semantics

Being a member of this class implies also being a member of Individual Event.

Status

Divorce

URI: http://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/Divorce

The event of legally dissolving a marriage.

Semantics

Being a member of this class implies also being a member of Group Event.

Examples

The divorce of Albert Einstein and Mileva Marić
_:e a bio:Divorce 
    ; dc:date "1919-02-14"
    ; bio:partner <http://dbpedia.org/resource/Albert_Einstein>
    ; bio:partner <http://dbpedia.org/resource/Mileva_Mari%C4%87>
    ; bio:place <http://dbpedia.org/resource/Zurich>
    .

Status

Emigration

URI: http://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/Emigration

The event of a person leaving their homeland with the intent of residing elsewhere.

Semantics

Being a member of this class implies also being a member of Individual Event.

Examples

Albert Einstein emigrating to the United States
_:e a bio:Emigration 
    ; dc:date "1933"^^xsd:gYear
    ; bio:principal <http://dbpedia.org/resource/Albert_Einstein>
    ; bio:state <http://dbpedia.org/resource/United_States>
    .

Status

Employer

URI: http://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/employer

An agent that is involved in an event as an employer.

Semantics

Having this property implies being an Event. Every value of this property is a foaf:Agent. It is a sub-property of Agent.

Status

Other Information

Employers[en]

Employment

URI: http://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/Employment

The event of a person entering an occupational relationship with an employer.

Semantics

Being a member of this class implies also being a member of Individual Event.

Status

Enrolment

URI: http://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/Enrolment

The event of a person initiating attendence to a school or other place of learning.

Semantics

Being a member of this class implies also being a member of Individual Event.

Status

Event

URI: http://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/Event

An event is an occurrence that brings about a change in the state of affairs for one or more people and/or other agents. Events are assumed to occur over a period of time and may not have precise start and end points.

Usage

This class is intended to describe biographical events, i.e. events in the life of a person.[en]

Semantics

Being a member of this class implies also being a member of c4dm:Event, cyc:Event, msg0:Event and dctype:Event. Having Date, Place, Position, Event Interval, Preceding Event, Immediately Preceding Event, Following Event, Immediately Following Event, Concurrent Event, Agent, Employer, State, Parent, Principal, Partner, Officiator, Witness, Spectator or Organization implies being a member of this class. Things are a member of this class if they are the value of Preceding Event, Immediately Preceding Event, Following Event, Immediately Following Event, Concurrent Event, Initiating Event, Concluding Event or Life Event.

Status

Event Interval

URI: http://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/eventInterval

The interval during which the event occurs. This interval represents the exact interval of occurence for an event, it starts at the moment the event commences and finishes when the event concludes. In other words both the event and the interval start at the same instant of time and extend for the same duration.

Semantics

Having this property implies being an Event. Every value of this property is an Interval.

Status

Execution

URI: http://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/Execution

The event of a person being deliberately killed as punishment.

Semantics

Being a member of this class implies also being a member of Death.

Status

Father

URI: http://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/father

The biological father of a person, also known as the genitor.

Usage

Note that this is a strict definition of father that does not include non-biological relationships. The Relationship vocabulary may be more suitable for broader types of parent/child relation.

Semantics

This property is functional. Having this property implies being a foaf:Person. Every value of this property is a foaf:Person. It is a sub-property of owl:differentFrom and Is child of.

Status

Following Event

URI: http://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/followingEvent

An event that starts at some time after this event.

Semantics

This property is transitive. Having this property implies being an Event. Every value of this property is an Event. It is a sub-property of owl:differentFrom.

Status

Other Information

Following Events[en]

Formation

URI: http://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/Formation

The event of a group or organization coming into being.

Semantics

Being a member of this class implies also being a member of Individual Event.

Status

Funeral

URI: http://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/Funeral

The event of marking a person's death with a ceremony.

Semantics

Being a member of this class implies also being a member of Individual Event.

Status

Graduation

URI: http://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/Graduation

The event of a person being awarded educational diplomas or degrees.

Semantics

Being a member of this class implies also being a member of Individual Event.

Examples

Albert Einstein receiving his Doctorate from the University of Zurich
_:e a bio:Graduation 
    ; dc:date "1905"^^xsd:gYear
    ; bio:principal <http://dbpedia.org/resource/Albert_Einstein>
    ; bio:organization <http://dbpedia.org/resource/University_of_Zurich>
    .

Status

Group Event

URI: http://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/GroupEvent

A type of event that is principally about one or more agents and their partnership. Other agents may be involved but the event is most significant for the partner agent.

Semantics

Every member of this class has at least 2 Partner properties. Being a member of this class implies also being a member of Event and a class that has at least 2 Partner properties.

Status

Immediately Following Event

URI: http://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/immediatelyFollowingEvent

An event that starts immediately after this event.

Semantics

Having this property implies being an Event. Every value of this property is an Event. It is a sub-property of owl:differentFrom and Following Event.

Status

Other Information

Immediately Following Events[en]

Immediately Preceding Event

URI: http://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/immediatelyPrecedingEvent

An event that occurs and concludes immediately before this event.

Semantics

Having this property implies being an Event. Every value of this property is an Event. It is a sub-property of owl:differentFrom and Preceding Event.

Status

Other Information

Immediately Preceding Events[en]

Imprisonment

URI: http://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/Imprisonment

The event of a person being detained in a jail or prison.

Semantics

Being a member of this class implies also being a member of Individual Event.

Status

Inauguration

URI: http://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/Inauguration

The ceremonial event marking the beginning of a person's term of office as a leader.

Semantics

Being a member of this class implies also being a member of Individual Event.

Status

Individual Event

URI: http://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/IndividualEvent

A type of event that is principally about a single person, group or organization. Other agents may be involved but the event is most significant for the principal agent.

Semantics

Every member of this class has exactly 1 Principal property. Being a member of this class implies also being a member of Event and a class that has exactly 1 Principal property.

Status

Initiating Event

URI: http://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/initiatingEvent

An event that marks the start of an interval and/or relationship. The event contributes to and/or causes of the state of affairs that hold during the interval. For example a period of study may be initiated by an Enrolment event.

Semantics

Every value of this property is an Event. It is a sub-property of owl:differentFrom.

Status

Other Information

Initiating Event[en]

Interval

URI: http://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/Interval

A extended interval of time related to a particular state of affairs, such as the lifespan of a person or a period of employment.

Semantics

Being a member of this class implies also being a member of time:ProperInterval. Things are a member of this class if they are the value of Event Interval or Relationship Interval.

Status

Investiture

URI: http://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/Investiture

The ceremonial event of a person taking a public office or honour.

Semantics

Being a member of this class implies also being a member of Individual Event.

Status

Key Words

URI: http://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/keywords

A comma delimited list of key words that describe a person.

Semantics

Having this property implies being a foaf:Person. Every value of this property is a rdfs:Literal. It is a sub-property of Subject.

Status

Life Event

URI: http://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/event

An event associated with a person, group or organization.

Semantics

Having this property implies being a foaf:Agent. Every value of this property is an Event. It is a sub-property of owl:differentFrom and the inverse of Agent

Status

Other Information

Life Events[en]

Marriage

URI: http://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/Marriage

The event of creating uniting the participants into a new family unit, sometimes accompanied by a formal wedding ceremony. This is intended to cover a broad range of marriages including those given formal legal standing, common-law, or by convention. It is not restricted to marriages of two people of the opposite gender, but also includes polygamous and same-sex unions.

Semantics

Being a member of this class implies also being a member of Group Event. It is equivalent to cyc:WeddingEvent_Generic.

Examples

The marriage of Albert Einstein and Mileva Marić
_:e a bio:Marriage 
    ; dc:date "1903"
    ; bio:partner <http://dbpedia.org/resource/Albert_Einstein>
    ; bio:partner <http://dbpedia.org/resource/Mileva_Mari%C4%87>
    ; bio:place <http://dbpedia.org/resource/Bern>
    .

Status

Mother

URI: http://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/mother

The biological mother of a person, also known as the genetrix.

Usage

Note that this is a strict definition of mother that does not include non-biological relationships. The Relationship vocabulary may be more suitable for broader types of parent/child relation.

Semantics

This property is functional. Having this property implies being a foaf:Person. Every value of this property is a foaf:Person. It is a sub-property of owl:differentFrom and Is child of.

Status

Murder

URI: http://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/Murder

The event of a person being killed unlawfully with intent by the killer.

Semantics

Being a member of this class implies also being a member of Death.

Status

Naturalization

URI: http://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/Naturalization

The event of a person obtaining citizenship. Note that the place the naturalization event occurs at may be different from the state the person is obtaining citizenship of.

Semantics

Being a member of this class implies also being a member of Individual Event.

Examples

Albert Einstein becoming a citizen of the United States
_:e a bio:Emigration 
    ; dc:date "1940"
    ; bio:principal <http://dbpedia.org/resource/Albert_Einstein>
    ; bio:state <http://dbpedia.org/resource/United_States>
    .

Status

Officiator

URI: http://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/officiator

A person that officiates at a ceremonial event.

Semantics

Having this property implies being an Event. Every value of this property is a foaf:Person. It is a sub-property of Agent.

Status

Other Information

Officiators[en]

One-line bio

URI: http://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/olb

A one-line biography of the person.

Semantics

Having this property implies being a foaf:Person. Every value of this property is a rdfs:Literal.

Status

Ordination

URI: http://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/Ordination

The ceremonial event held when a person receives authority to act in religious matters.

Semantics

Being a member of this class implies also being a member of Individual Event.

Status

Organization

URI: http://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/organization

An organization that plays a role in an event.

Semantics

Having this property implies being an Event. Every value of this property is a foaf:Person. It is a sub-property of Agent.

Status

Other Information

Organizations[en]

Parent

URI: http://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/parent

A person that takes the parent role in an event.

Semantics

Having this property implies being an Event. Every value of this property is a foaf:Person. It is a sub-property of Agent.

Status

Other Information

Parents[en]

Participant

URI: http://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/participant

A person, group or organization that participates in a relationship for some time.

Semantics

Having this property implies being an Agent Relationship. Every value of this property is a foaf:Agent. It is a sub-property of owl:differentFrom and the inverse of RelationshipIt is equivalent to rel:participant.

Status

Other Information

Participants[en]

Partner

URI: http://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/partner

A person that is involved in a event as a partner in a relationship.

Semantics

Having this property implies being an Event. Every value of this property is a foaf:Person. It is a sub-property of Agent.

Status

Other Information

Partners[en]

Performance

URI: http://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/Performance

The event of an individual or a group of performers performing. Examples include concerts, plays, recitals, recordings, busking etc.

Semantics

Being a member of this class implies also being a member of Group Event. It is equivalent to mo:Performance.

Status

Place

URI: http://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/place

The place at which an event occurred.

Semantics

Having this property implies being an Event.

Status

Other Information

Places[en]

Position

URI: http://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/position

The employment position or public office involved in an event.

Semantics

Having this property implies being an Event. Every value of this property is a foaf:Person. It is a sub-property of Agent.

Status

Other Information

Positions[en]

Preceding Event

URI: http://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/precedingEvent

An event that occurs and concludes at some time before this event.

Semantics

This property is transitive. Having this property implies being an Event. Every value of this property is an Event. It is a sub-property of owl:differentFrom.

Status

Other Information

Preceding Events[en]

Principal

URI: http://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/principal

A person that takes the primary and most important role in an event. For example the principal in a Birth event would be the child being born and the principal in a Burial event would be the deceased person.

Semantics

Having this property implies being an Event. Every value of this property is a foaf:Person. It is a sub-property of Agent.

Status

Other Information

Principals[en]

Promotion

URI: http://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/Promotion

The event of a person changing the position they hold with an employer to one with more importance or responsibility.

Semantics

Being a member of this class implies also being a member of Change of Position.

Status

Redundancy

URI: http://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/Redundancy

The event of a person involuntarily giving up an office or position that is no longer needed. Redundancy is usually perceived to be the employer's fault and is usually due to conditions outside of the employee's control.

Semantics

Being a member of this class implies also being a member of Individual Event.

Status

Relationship

URI: http://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/relationship

A relationship that a person, group or organization participates in for some time.

Semantics

Having this property implies being a foaf:Agent. Every value of this property is an Agent Relationship. It is a sub-property of owl:differentFrom and the inverse of ParticipantIt is equivalent to rel:participantIn.

Status

Other Information

Relationships[en]

Relationship Interval

URI: http://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/interval

The interval during which the relationship persists.

Semantics

Having this property implies being an Agent Relationship. Every value of this property is an Interval.

Status

Resignation

URI: http://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/Resignation

The event of a person voluntarily giving up or quitting their office or position.

Semantics

Being a member of this class implies also being a member of Individual Event.

Status

Retirement

URI: http://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/Retirement

The event of a person exiting an occupational relationship with an employer after a qualifying time period. In many cultures retirement is expected and even required once the person reaches a particular age.

Semantics

Being a member of this class implies also being a member of Individual Event.

Status

Spectator

URI: http://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/spectator

A person that is present at and observes the occurrence of at least part of an event.

Semantics

Having this property implies being an Event. Every value of this property is a foaf:Person. It is a sub-property of Agent.

Status

Other Information

Spectators[en]

State

URI: http://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/state

A country or independent territory that is involved in an event.

Semantics

Having this property implies being an Event. It is a sub-property of Agent.

Status

Other Information

States[en]

Witness

URI: http://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/witness

A person that witnesses and can bear testimony to the occurrence of an event.

Semantics

Having this property implies being an Event. Every value of this property is a foaf:Person. It is a sub-property of Spectator.

Status

Other Information

Witnesses[en]

Examples

A Biography of Henry VIII, King of England

Based on information at Wikipedia and Hull University

@prefix bio: <http://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/> .
@prefix foaf: <http://xmlns.com/foaf/0.1/> .
@prefix rdfs: <http://www.w3.org/2000/01/rdf-schema#> .

_:henryviii
  a foaf:Person
  ; foaf:name "Henry VIII, King of England"
  ; bio:father _:henryvii
  ; bio:mother _:elizplantagenet
  ; bio:child _:child1, _:child2, _:child3, _:child4, _:child5, _:child6, _:child7, _:child8
  ; bio:birth _:birth
  ; bio:death _:death
  ; bio:event _:burial, _:accession, _:coronation, _:marriage1
            , _:marriage2, _:marriage3, _:marriage4, _:marriage5, _:marriage6
  .

_:henryvii
  a foaf:Person
  ; foaf:name "Henry VII Tudor, King of England"
  ; bio:child _:henryviii
  .

_:elizplantagenet
  a foaf:Person
  ; foaf:name "Elizabeth of York"
  ; bio:child _:henryviii
  .
  
_:birth
  a bio:Birth
  ; rdfs:label "The birth of Henry VIII to Henry VII and Elizabeth Plantagenet on 28 June 1491"
  ; bio:date "1491-06-28"
  ; bio:place <http://dbpedia.org/resource/Palace_of_Placentia>
  ; bio:parent _:henryvii, _:elizplantagenet
  ; bio:principal _:henryviii
  .

_:death
  a bio:Death
  ; rdfs:label "The death of Henry VIII on 28 January 1547"
  ; bio:date "1547-01-28"
  ; bio:place <http://dbpedia.org/resource/Palace_of_Whitehall>
  ; bio:principal _:henryviii
  .
  

_:accession
  a bio:Accession
  ; rdfs:label "The accession of Henry VIII to the throne of England on 21 April 1509"
  ; bio:date "1509-06-24"
  ; bio:principal _:henryviii
  ; bio:state <http://dbpedia.org/resource/Kingdom_of_England>
  ; bio:immediatelyPrecedingEvent [ a bio:Death
                                    ; rdfs:label "The death of Henry VII on 9 May 1509"
                                    ; bio:date "1509-05-09"
                                    ; bio:place <http://dbpedia.org/resource/Richmond_Palace>
                                    ; bio:principal _:henryvii
                                  ]
  .

_:coronation
  a bio:Coronation
  ; rdfs:label "The coronation of Henry VIII as King of England on 24 June 1509"
  ; bio:date "1509-06-24"
  ; bio:place <http://dbpedia.org/page/Westminster_Abbey>
  ; bio:principal _:henryviii
  ; bio:precedingEvent _:accession
  .

_:burial
  a bio:Burial
  ; rdfs:label "The burial of Henry VII at St.George's Chapel, Windsor Castle,England"
  ; bio:place <http://dbpedia.org/resource/St_George%E2%80%99s_Chapel%2C_Windsor>
  ; bio:principal _:henryviii
  ; bio:precedingEvent _:death
  .

_:marriage1
  a bio:Marriage
  ; rdfs:label "The marriage of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon"
  ; bio:date "1509-06-11"
  ; bio:place <http://dbpedia.org/resource/Palace_of_Placentia>
  ; bio:partner _:henryvii, _:catharagon
  .

_:annulment1
  a bio:Annulment
  ; rdfs:label "The annulment of the marriage between Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon"
  ; bio:date "1533-05-23"
  ; bio:partner _:henryvii, _:catharagon 
  ; bio:officiator <http://dbpedia.org/resource/Thomas_Cranmer>
  .

_:catharagon
  a foaf:Person
  ; foaf:name "Anne Boleyn"
  ; bio:child _:child1, _:child2, _:child3, _:child4, _:child5
  ; bio:event _:marriage1, _:annulment1
  .

_:child1
  a foaf:Person
  ; rdfs:label "Unnamed daughter of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon"
  ; bio:event [ a bio:Birth
                ; bio:date "1510-01-31"
                ; bio:principal _:child1
                ; bio:parent _:henryviii, _:catharagon
              ]
  ; bio:event [ a bio:Death
                ; bio:date "1510-02-02"
                ; bio:principal _:child1
              ]
  .

_:child2
  a foaf:Person
  ; foaf:name "Henry"
  ; bio:event [ a bio:Birth
                ; bio:date "1511-01-01"
                ; bio:principal _:child2
                ; bio:parent _:henryviii, _:catharagon
              ]
  ; bio:event [ a bio:Death
                ; bio:date "1511-02-22"
                ; bio:principal _:child2
              ]
  .
  
_:child3
  a foaf:Person
  ; foaf:name "Henry"
  ; bio:event [ a bio:Birth
                ; bio:date "1514-12"
                ; bio:principal _:child3
                ; bio:parent _:henryviii, _:catharagon
              ]
  ; bio:event [ a bio:Death
                ; bio:principal _:child3
              ]
  .

_:child4
  a foaf:Person
  ; foaf:name "Mary"
  ; bio:event [ a bio:Birth
                ; bio:date "1516-02-18"
                ; bio:principal _:child4
                ; bio:parent _:henryviii, _:catharagon
              ]
  ; bio:event [ a bio:Death
                ; bio:date "1558-11-17"
                ; bio:principal _:child4
              ]
  .


_:child5
  a foaf:Person
  ; rdfs:label "Unnamed daughter of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon"
  ; bio:event [ a bio:Birth
                ; bio:date "1518-11"
                ; bio:principal _:child5
                ; bio:parent _:henryviii, _:catharagon
              ]
  ; bio:event [ a bio:Death
                ; bio:principal _:child5
              ]
  .
  

_:marriage2
  a bio:Marriage
  ; rdfs:label "The marriage of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn"
  ; bio:date "1533-01-25"
  ; bio:partner _:henryvii, _:anneboleyn
  ; bio:place <http://dbpedia.org/resource/Westminster_Abbey>
  .

_:anneboleyn
  a foaf:Person
  ; foaf:name "Anne Boleyn"
  ; bio:child _:child6
  ; bio:event _:marriage2, _:annulment2, _:anneboleyn-death
  .

_:annulment2
  a bio:Annulment
  ; rdfs:label "The annulment of the marriage between Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn"
  ; bio:date "1536-05-17"
  ; bio:partner _:henryvii, _:anneboleyn 
  .
  
_:anneboleyn-death
  a bio:Execution
  ; rdfs:label "The beheading of Anne Boleyn"
  ; bio:date "1536-05-19"
  ; bio:place <http://dbpedia.org/resource/Tower_of_London>
  ; bio:principal _:anneboleyn
  .

_:child6
  a foaf:Person
  ; foaf:name "Elizabeth"
  ; bio:event [ a bio:Birth
                ; bio:date "1533-09-07"
                ; bio:principal _:child6
                ; bio:parent _:henryviii, _:anneboleyn
              ]
  ; bio:event [ a bio:Death
                ; bio:date "1603-03-24"
                ; bio:principal _:child6
              ]
  .

_:marriage3
  a bio:Marriage
  ; bio:date "1536-05-20"
  ; bio:partner _:henryviii, _:janeseymour
  ; bio:place <http://dbpedia.org/resource/York_Place>
  .

_:janeseymour
  a foaf:Person
  ; foaf:name "Jane Seymour"
  ; bio:event _:marriage3, _:janeseymour-death
  ; bio:child _:child7
  .

_:janeseymour-death
  a bio:Death
  ; rdfs:label "The death of Jane Seymour on 24 October 1537"
  ; bio:date "1537-10-24"
  ; bio:principal _:janeseymour
  ; bio:place <http://dbpedia.org/resource/Hampton_Court_Palace>
  .
  

_:child7
  a foaf:Person
  ; foaf:name "Edward"
  ; bio:event [ a bio:Birth
                ; bio:date "1537-10-12"
                ; bio:principal _:child7
                ; bio:parent _:henryviii, _:janeseymour
                ; bio:place <http://dbpedia.org/resource/Hampton_Court_Palace>
              ]
  ; bio:event [ a bio:Accession
                ; bio:immediatelyPrecedingEvent _:death
              ]
  ; bio:event [ a bio:Death
                ; bio:date "1553-07-06"
                ; bio:principal _:child7
                ; bio:place <http://dbpedia.org/resource/Palace_of_Placentia>
              ]
  .

_:marriage4
  a bio:Marriage
  ; bio:date "1540-01-06"
  ; bio:partner _:henryvii, _:annecleves
  ; bio:place <http://dbpedia.org/resource/Palace_of_Placentia>
  ; bio:officiator <http://dbpedia.org/resource/Thomas_Cranmer>
  .
    
_:annulment3
  a bio:Annulment
  ; rdfs:label "The annulment of the marriage between Henry VIII and Anne of Cleves"
  ; bio:date "1540-07-09"
  ; bio:partner _:henryviii, _:annecleves
  .

_:annecleves
  a foaf:Person
  ; foaf:name "Anne of Cleves"
  ; bio:event _:marriage4, _:annulment3
  .

_:marriage5
  a bio:Marriage
  ; bio:date "1540-07-28"
  ; bio:partner _:henryviii, _:cathhoward
  ; bio:place <http://dbpedia.org/resource/Oatlands_Palace>
  .
  
_:cathhoward
  a foaf:Person
  ; foaf:name "Catherine Howard"
  ; bio:event _:marriage5, _:cathhoward-death
  .
  
_:cathhoward-death
  a bio:Execution
  ; rdfs:label "The beheading of Catherine Howard"
  ; bio:date "1542-02-13"
  ; bio:place <http://dbpedia.org/resource/Tower_of_London>
  ; bio:principal _:cathhoward
  .

_:marriage6
  a bio:Marriage
  ; rdfs:label "The marriage between Henry VIII and Catherine Parr"
  ; bio:date "1543-07-12"
  ; bio:place <http://dbpedia.org/resource/Hampton_Court_Palace>
  ; bio:partner _:henryviii, _:cathparr
  .
  
_:cathparr
  a foaf:Person
  ; foaf:name "Catherine Parr"
  ; bio:event _:marriage6
  .


_:elizblount
  a foaf:Person
  ; foaf:name "Elizabeth Blount"
  ; bio:child _:child8
  .
  
_:child8
  a foaf:Person
  ; foaf:name "Henry FitzRoy"
  ; foaf:mother _:elizblount
  ; foaf:father _:henryviii
  ; bio:event [ a bio:Birth
                ; bio:principal _:child8
                ; bio:date "1519-06-15"
                ; bio:parent _:henryviii, _:elizblount
                ; bio:place <http://dbpedia.org/resource/Blackmore>
                ]
  .

_:marriage1-interval
  a bio:Interval
  ; rdfs:label "The period of time during which Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon were married"
  ; bio:initiatingEvent _:marriage1
  ; bio:concludingEvent _:annulment1
  .

_:marriage2-interval
  a bio:Interval
  ; rdfs:label "The period of time during which Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn were married"
  ; bio:initiatingEvent _:marriage2
  ; bio:concludingEvent _:annulment2
  .
  
_:marriage3-interval
  a bio:Interval
  ; rdfs:label "The period of time during which Henry VIII and Jane Seymour were married"
  ; bio:initiatingEvent _:marriage3
  ; bio:concludingEvent _:janeseymour-death
  .

_:marriage4-interval
  a bio:Interval
  ; rdfs:label "The period of time during which Henry VIII and Anne of Cleves were married"
  ; bio:initiatingEvent _:marriage4
  ; bio:concludingEvent _:annulment3
  .

_:marriage5-interval
  a bio:Interval
  ; rdfs:label "The period of time during which Henry VIII and Catherine Howard were married"
  ; bio:initiatingEvent _:marriage5
  ; bio:terminatingEvent _:cathhoward-death
  .

_:marriage6-interval
  a bio:Interval
  ; rdfs:label "The period of time during which Henry VIII and Catherine Parr were married"
  ; bio:initiatingEvent _:marriage6
  ; bio:terminatingEvent _:henryviii-death
  .

Other Information

http://purl.org/vocab/bio/0.1/schema
10 May 2010