George Selby Washington Epps was born on 26 February 1885 to father Washington Epps, a medical doctor in Great Russell Street, London, and his mother who was a sister of Lawrence Alma-Tadema.

[1] He was educated at Highgate School from 1899 before studying the Mathematical Tripos at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, graduating with a second-class degree in 1907.

He served on various actuarial committees relating to National Insurance, including work on the implications on finance of the partition of Ireland.

[1] He was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 1926 Birthday Honours,[4] before being promoted to Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) in the 1942 Birthday Honours.

[5] In addition, he was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) in the 1931 Birthday Honours.