Sir William Petty

Sabine Reungoat (L'Université Paris-Est Créteil)

The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.2.1.04: English Writing and Culture of the Seventeenth Century, 1625-1688.
Vol. editors: Jennifer Brady (Rhodes College), Daniel Cook (University of Dundee), Neil Forsyth (Université de Lausanne), Claire Preston (Queen Mary, University of London), J A Roe (University of York), Virginia Mason Vaughan (Clark University)

Dates

Born 26 May 1623
Died 16 Dec 1676
Activity 1643-1676

Places

Born in England
Active in England

Activities

Primary

Political Economist

Resources

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 …

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1803 words

Citation: Reungoat, Sabine. "Sir William Petty". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 08 October 2020 [https://staging.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=3544, accessed 25 November 2024.]

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