Motto.—Virtute non verbis.
[Pontificale. Lansdowne MS. 451.]
William Fitzmaurice Petty (born 1737, died 7th May 1805) was the son of John, Earl of Shelburne. He was educated at Oxford, and then entered the army, and fought at Campen and at Minden, eventually becoming a general officer. He represented High Wycombe in Parliament. In 1761, on the death of his father, William Petty became Earl of Shelburne, and quickly made his mark in the House of Lords, and became head of the Board of Trade. In 1766 he became a Secretary of State for the Southern Department. On the death of Lord Rockingham in 1782, Lord Shelburne succeeded as Premier, and held this position until 1783. In 1784 Lord Shelburne was created Marquis of Lansdowne, and he spent the remainder of his life at his beautiful Wiltshire seat of Bowood.
About 1765 he began collecting books, particularly those concerning history and politics. Among the books collected by Lord Shelburne were several which had belonged to Sir Julius Cæsar, and also many of Lord Burghley's. Lord Lansdowne's manuscripts were acquired for the British Museum by purchase after his death.
PHILPOT, JOHN, SOMERSET HERALD
Arms.—Quarterly.
1st and 4th; gu., a cross arg., between four swords erect of the second, pommelled and hilted or. Philpot.