Early Life and Education
William Petty was a physician, natural philosopher, administrator and writer on economics. A man of many talents and interests, he was a significant figure in the scientific revolution and is chiefly remembered as one of the founders of political economy and population studies. Petty attempted to apply the Baconian method based on observation and measurement to economic and social phenomena and his “political arithmetic” paved the way to the classical school of economics.
Petty was born in Romsey, Hampshire, on 26 May 1623, the son of Anthony Petty, a clothier, and his wife Francesca. He received a conventional education based on Latin, Greek and arithmetic and developed an early interest in crafts and mechanical arts. At the age of 13, he enrolled as a cabin boy on a merchant ship,...
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Citation: Reungoat, Sabine. "Sir William Petty". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 08 October 2020 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=3544, accessed 18 December 2025.]
