Sir William Petty Encyclopedia Article

Sir William Petty

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Sir William Petty

1632-1687

English-Irish economist and physician who invented the first modern cataraman, a boat with two hulls. A prominent figure in his time, Petty served in a number of important positions with the English government. He was a founding member of the Royal Society, and in 1662 published one of the first books on vital statistics. Also in 1662, Petty built his catamaran, the Experiment, in Ireland.