Background
Petty was a younger son of Sir William Petty and Elizabeth, Baroness Shelburne, daughter of Sir Hardress Waller.
Petty was a younger son of Sir William Petty and Elizabeth, Baroness Shelburne, daughter of Sir Hardress Waller.
Petty was elected to the Irish House of Commons for Midleton in 1692, a seat he held until 1693, and then represented County Waterford between 1695 and 1699. Two years later he was sworn of the Irish Privy Council. In 1719 he was further honoured when he was made Viscount Dunkerron and Earl of Shelburne in the Peerage of Ireland.
Royal Society; 6th Parliament of Great Britain. 5th Parliament of Great Britain]
He was later a member of the British House of Commons for Great Marlow between 1715 and 1772 and for Wycombe between 1722 and 1727.