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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 2924

Sir William Petty

by Isaac Fuller
oil on canvas, circa 1651
NPG 2924

Sir William Petty, by Edwin Sandys - NPG D5517

Sir William Petty

by Edwin Sandys
line engraving, 1683
NPG D5517

Sir 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
mezzotint, 1696
NPG D30966

Sir William Petty, by and published by John Smith, after John Closterman - NPG D30967

Sir William Petty

by and published by John Smith, after John Closterman
mezzotint, 1696
NPG D30967

Sir William Petty, by John Smith, after John Closterman - NPG D46101

Sir William Petty

by John Smith, after John Closterman
mezzotint, 1696
NPG D46101

Sir William Petty, by and published by John Smith, after John Closterman - NPG D11978

Sir William Petty

by and published by John Smith, after John Closterman
mezzotint, 1696
NPG D11978

Sir William Petty, after Unknown artist - NPG D30056

Sir William Petty

after Unknown artist
stipple engraving, late 18th to early 19th century
NPG D30056

Web image not currently available

Sir William Petty

by and published by John Smith, after John Closterman
mezzotint, 1696
NPG D20077

Web image not currently available

Sir William Petty

after Isaac Fuller
photogravure, published 1895
NPG D5516

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