William Petty

son of Anthony Petty a Clothier, was born in a little haven Town in Hampshire called Rumsey, on the 26 of May 1623, and while a boy he took very great delight in spending his time among Artificers there, as Smiths, Carpenters, Joyners, &c. whose trades, in some respects, he understood so well in short time at 12 years of age, that he could work at them. At that time he went to the Grammar School there, had some smattering in the latin, and at about 15 years of age he entred into the Greek tongue. Soon after he went to Caen in Normandy, and with a little stock of Merchantdizing that he then improved, maintained himself there, learned the French tongue, and at 18 years of age the Arts and Mathematicks. Afterwards he retired to Paris, studied Anatomy and read Vesalius with Hobbes of Malmsbury, who lov’d his company exceeding well, and was not wanting on all occasions to forward his pregnant genie. So that in short time being accomplished with such parts of learning that began then to be in great esteem in England, he returned (after he had visited the Netherlands) into England, and on the 6. of March 1647 a patent was ordered for him, by the members of Parliament, to endure for 17 years, to teach his art of double writing. At that time, being a man of fortune, he sided with the people then in authority, went to Oxon when the great rout of loyal Scholars was made by the Parliamentarian Visitors, setled there for some time, followed the faculty of Physick, exercised Anatomy and Chymistry much among young Scholars, to his and their great benefit, and became deputy professor of Anatomy for Dr. Thom. Clayton, who being possest with a timorous and effeminate humour, could never endure the sight of a mangled or bloody body. On the 7. of March 1649 he, by the commendatory letters of certain persons then in authority, written to the Delegates of the University, was actually created Doctor of Physick, he being about that time made Fellow of Brasn. Coll. in the place of Nath. Hoyle Bach. of Divinity, and in Dec. 1650 his name was wonderfully cried up for being the chief person in the recovery to life of one Anne Green, who was hang’d in Oxford Castle on the 14 of the same month, for making away her bastard child; at which time, instead of recovering her, he intended to have her made an Anatomy. In the beginning of January following, he was unanimously elected Anatomy professor of the University, upon Claytons renouncing his interest therein, purposely to serve him, and shortly after, he was not only made one of the Coll. of Physitians at London, but Musick professor of Gresham Coll, which last place he obtained by the interest of his dear friend Capt. Joh. Graunt. In 1652, he being recommended to the Parliament to be one of the surveyors of Ireland, he procured a patent for that purpose, and in Aug. the same year, he took a voyage thither, practiced his faculty in Dublin among the chief of that City, got to be Clerk of the Council there, and Secretary to the L. Lieutenant. In Dec. 1654 he began to survey, (for which he received 365 l. per an,) which was done in ten months time or thereabouts, with that exactness, that there was no estate to the value of 60 l. per an. but he did exactly shew it to its true value, and made maps of all that he had done. Those that he employed for the Geometrical part, were ordinary persons, that circumambulated with their box and needle, not knowing what they did, but our author Petty knew right well how to make use of their Labours. ’Tis said that by this employment, he obtained an estate in Ireland worth about 10000 l. per an, but a great part of it being refunded, because their former owners were declared innocent, as to the then late rebellion, he had left him about 5, or 6000 l. yearly, and could from Mount-Mangorton in Kerry behold 50000 acres of his own Land. But this survey was but a single proof of the great el [•] vation of his understanding genius, which like a meteor moved above the spheer of other Mortals. In Jan. 1658 he was elected one of the Burgesses of Westlow in Cornwall to serve in Richards Parliament, which began at Westm. on the 27 of the same month, wherein he was a considerable actor, as I have heard; but that Parliament being soon after dissolved and Richard laid aside, he went into Ireland, whence returning after his Majesties restauration, and introduced into his presence, his Majesty was much pleased with his ingenious discourses, and seemed to be delighted in him. About that time the Royal Society being instituted, he was appointed one of its first members, and afterwards one of the Council belonging thereunto, being then esteemed the prime person to advance experimental Philosophy and Mechanicks. On the 11. of Apr. 1661 he received the honour of Knighthood from his Majesty, and did afterwards (as some say) design to be Earl of Kilmore in Ireland, but that project, which he knew the effect would cause great envy, came to nothing. In the beginning of the year 1663 he became famous in Ireland by the success of his new invention of the Double bottom’d Ship against the judgment and resolution of almost all mankind; for in July the same year, when first the Ship adventur’d from Dublin to Holyhead, she stayed there many days before her return, and ’twas pleasant to consider how her Adversaries insulted, and having first established the conclusion, that she was cast away, did afterwards discourse the several necessities why it should be so. Some said it was impossible her Mast could be sufficiently planted against a strong gale, others said she was gone to Land at O Brasile, &c. But her return in triumph with those visible advantages above other vessels, did check the derision of some, and becalm’d the violence of others, the first point having been clearly gain’d that she could bear the Seas. She then turned in against wind and tide into that narrow harbour (Holyhead) amongst the rocks and ships with such dexterity, as many antient Sea-men did then confess they had never seen the like. About the same time Thomas Earl of Ossory and other persons of honour were imbarqued in her, and drove to and again within the bar near Dublin. It then blew very hard, insomuch that a small Holland vessel (famous for a good sailer) which set sail with her, was in appearance after looked upon to be over set, whilst she inclined not above half a foot more to one side than another, so that it was truly then called The pad of the Sea. It appeared very much to excel all other forms of ships, in sailing, in carriage, in security and many other such benefits, but at length in its return home from a certain voyage, it was destroyed by a common fate, and by such a dreadful tempest, as overwhelmed a great Fleet the same night: So that the antient fabrick of Ships had no reason to triumph over that new model, when of 70 sail that were in the same storm, there was not one escaped to bring the news. In a word tho this invention succeeded not, while it was only supported by private purses, it will (as one ((a))((a)) Tho. Spra [•] in The Hist. of the Royal Society, &c. Lond. 1667. qu. part. 2. p. 240. observes) undoubtedly produce great effects, if ever it shall be retrieved upon the publick stock of the Nation, &c. A model of it (tho lost) was given by the inventor thereof to the Royal Society, made with his own hand, and it is at this day kept in the repository at Gresham College. To conclude, he was a person of an admirable inventive head, of a prodigious working wit, and of so great worth and learning, that he was both fit for, and an honour to, the highest preferment. He hath written,

Advice concerning the education of youth, &c. Lond. 1647. qu. Written to Mr. Sam. Hartlib under the two letters of W. P.

Advice for the advancement of some particular parts of learning. Lond. 1648. written to Sam. Hartlib. This title which I have received from a second hand, may be (for I have not yet seen it) the same with the Advice before mentioned.

A brief of proceedings between Sir Hierom Zanchy and him, with the state of the controversie between them. Lond. 1659. in 2 or 3. sh. in fol. The articles then put up against him relating to his actions in Ireland, were (1) That he the said Doctor Petty had received great bribes. (2) That he had made a trade of buying debenters in vast numbers against the statute. (3) That he had gotten vast summs of money, and scopes of land by fraud. (4) That he had used many foul practices, as Surveyor and Commissioner, for setting out lands. (5) That he and his fellow Commissioners had placed some debenters in better places than they could claim, denying right to others. (6) That he and his fellow Commissioners had totally disposed of the Armies security; the debt still remaining chargeable on the state. All which, were according to the said Brief of proceedings, cleared by Petty: what the event of the matter was I cannot have.

Reflections upon some persons and things in Ireland, by letters to and from him: (Doct. Petty) with Sir Hierom Zanchy’s speech in Parliament. Lond. 1660. oct, written mostly against his busie and envious Antagonist Zanchy, of whom I shall speak elsewhere.

A treatise of taxes and contributions: shewing the nature and measures of Crown-lands, assessments, customs, poll-moneys, lotteries, benevolence, &c. Lond. 1662 and 67. in about 10. sh. in qu.

Discourse made before the Royal society, 26. Nov. 1674 concerning the use of duplicate proportion, in sundry important particulars. Lond. 1674 in tw. See in the Philosoph. Transact. nu. 109. p. 209.

A new Hypothesis of springing, or elastique motions—Printed at the end of the said Discourse.

An apparatus to the history of the common practices of Dying—See in The Hist. of the Royal Society, written by Tho. Sprat,—Lond. 1667. qu. part 2. p. 284. &c.

Treatise or discourse about the building of Ships—It was presented by the author in MS, to the R. Society about 1665, contained in about a quire of paper of his own writing; but William Lord Brounker President of the Council pertaining to that Society, took it away and kept it in his possession till 1682 and after, perhaps to the time of his death, saying it was too great an Arcanum of state to be commonly perused. The author, tho he had no copy of it by him, yet Dr. Rob. Wood who lived in Ireland had one.

Colloquium Davidis cum anima sua (accinente paraphrasim in 104 psalmum) de magnalibus dei. Lond. 1679 in two sh. in fol. This thing which is in latin Hexameter, was composed by the author 25 of March 1678, under the name of Cassid. Aureus Minutius.

Political Arithmetick; or a discourse concerning the extent and value of land, people, buildings, husbandry, manufacture, commerce, fishery, artizans, seamen, soldiers, publick revenues, &c. as the same relates to every County in general, and more particularly to the territories of his Majesty of Great Britain, and his neighbours of Holland and France—This was presented in MS, by the author, to his Majesty Ch. 2; and Sir Joseph Williamson had a copy of it, but was not printed till Mich. term 1690, ’Tis in oct, as the other volumes of Pol. Arithm. are.

Another Essay in political Arithmetick concerning the growth of the City of London: with the measures, periods, causes and consequences thereof, an. 1682. Lond. 1683. 86 in 3 sh. in oct.

Observations upon the Dublin-bills of mortality, 1681. and the state of that City. Lond. 1683 in 3. sh. in oct. He had also long before assisted, or put into a way, John Graunt in his writing of Nat. and Pol. Observations of the bills of mortality of Lond.

Maps of Ireland, being his actual survey of that whole kingdom—These were printed in fol. 1685. and were then valued at 2 l. 10 s. in quires.

Essay concerning the multiplication of mankind. Lond. 1686. oct. With this was printed the second edit. of Another Essay in Pol. Arith. &c.

Further observations upon the Dublin bills; or accompts of the houses, hearths, baptismes and burials of the City. Lond. 1686. oct.

Two Essays in Political Arithmetick, concerning the people, housing, hospitals of London and Paris; with observations on the Cities of London and Rome. Lond. 1686. 7. oct.

Five Essays in political Arithmetick. viz. 1. Objections from the City of Rey in Persia, and from Monsieur Aurout, against two former Essays answer’d, and that London hath as many people, as Paris, Rome and Rouen put together. 2. A comparison between London and Paris in 14 particulars. 3. Proofs, that in London within its 134. Parishes in the bills of mortality, there live about six hundred ninety six thousand People. 4. An estimate of the people, &c. Lond. 1687. oct.

A treatise of taxes and contributions, particularly fitted for the state of Ireland—Lond. 1691. qu. Printed in a book entit. A Collection of three state Tracts, &c.

Treatise of naval philosophy, &c. Lond. 1691 oct. Qu. whether the same with the Treatise or disc. about building of Ships, before mention’d.

The Political Anatomy of Ireland, &c. Lond. 1691. oct.

Verbum Sapienti: or, an account of the wealth and expence of England, &c. Ibid. 1691. oct. This is animadverted upon in a pamph. intit. A letter from a Gent. in the Country to his friend in the City, &c. Lond. 1692. qu. This learned Vertuoso Sir Will. Petty died in his house in Piccadilly-street, almost opposite to S. James’s Church, within the liberty of Westminster, of a Gangreen in his foot, occasion’d by the swelling of the Gout, on the sixteenth day of Decemb. in sixteen hundred eighty and seven: whereupon his body was carried to Rumsey, 1687. the place of his nativity, and buried in the Church there near the bodies of his father and mother. By his wife Elizabeth daughter of Sir Hardress Waller Kt, and Relict of Sir Maurice Fenton, he had issue two sons, viz. Charles created Baron of Shelborne in Ireland soon after his fathers death, and Henry, and a daughter named Anne. He had also a natural daughter more like to him than any other of his children, who was an Actress in the Dukes Play-house an. 1680 and after. Could I have seen Sir Will. Petty’s life, written by himself, which is in MS. in the hands of his brother in Law Waller, I might have spoken more fully and punctually of him, but the owner of it living remote from the author of this book, and altogether unknown to him, he could never gain a sight of it.