William petty fitzmaurice biography of rory

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William petty fitzmaurice biography of rory

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William Petty, second Earl of Shelburne (1737-1805)

William Petty was born in Dublin on 2 May 1737, the elder son and first of five children born to John Petty and Mary Fitzmaurice.

He appears not to have had much education: in his autobiography, he noted, "From the time I was four years old till I was fourteen, my education was neglected to the greatest degree". He was sent to an ordinary school and then was taught by a tutor until he went to Christ Church, Oxford in 1755.

He left Oxford in 1757 without taking a Degree. At that point, his father bought Shelburne a commission in the 20th Regiment of Footguards and in 1759 he di