Background
Earle was the eldest son of Harry Benson Earle. He was born at Shaftesbury, Wiltshire, in 1740, but his life was passed at Salisbury, with the history and charities of which city his name is inseparably associated.
Earle was the eldest son of Harry Benson Earle. He was born at Shaftesbury, Wiltshire, in 1740, but his life was passed at Salisbury, with the history and charities of which city his name is inseparably associated.
After spending his boyhood, first at the school in the Close, and then as a commoner at Winchester College, he went on to Merton College, Oxford, where he graduated Bachelor of Arts in 1761, Master of Arts
In 1764. He then made the grand tour of the continent (1765–1767). In 1773 he was elected a fellow of the Royal Society. On the death of his father in 1776 Earle succeeded to an ample fortune.
He died at Salisbury on 2 March 1796, and was buried at Newton Tony.
By his will he bequeathed large sums to various learned and charitable institutions. A profile of him was engraved by Prince Hoare in 1769 at the expense of the Society of Arts.
Royal Society.
