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Sir William Petty

(1623-1687), Political economist

Sitter in 9 portraits
A physician, natural scientist, inventor and political economist, Petty was a founding fellow of the Royal Society. He overcame a humble origin to rise rapidly following the Parliamentary victory in the civil war. Petty was elected Professor of Anatomy at Oxford in 1651, and made a fortune following Cromwell's conquest of Ireland by surveying the land to be confiscated and distributed amongst the victors. He retained his positions at the Restoration and impressed Charles II with his design for a double-keeled ship. He is principally remembered for carrying out the first serious attempt at a scientific and mathematical study of social statistics in Political Arithmetic (1690).

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Sir William Petty, by Isaac Fuller - NPG 2924Sir William Petty
by Isaac Fuller
NPG 2924
Sir William Petty, by Edwin Sandys - NPG D5517Sir William Petty
by Edwin Sandys
NPG D5517
Sir William Petty, by and published by John Smith, after John Closterman - NPG D30966Sir William Petty
by and published by John Smith, after John Closterman
NPG D30966
Sir William Petty, by and published by John Smith, after John Closterman - NPG D30967Sir William Petty
by and published by John Smith, after John Closterman
NPG D30967
Sir William Petty, by John Smith, after John Closterman - NPG D46101Sir William Petty
by John Smith, after John Closterman
NPG D46101
Sir William Petty, by and published by John Smith, after John Closterman - NPG D11978Sir William Petty
by and published by John Smith, after John Closterman
NPG D11978
Sir William Petty, after Unknown artist - NPG D30056Sir William Petty
after Unknown artist
NPG D30056

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