LANSDOWNE, WILLIAM PETTY FITZMAU RICE, 1ST MARQUESS OF (1737-1805) , British statesman, better known under his earlier title of earl of Shelburne, was born at Dublin, on May 20, 1737. He was a descendant of the lords of Kerry (dating from 1181), and his grandfather Thomas Fitz maurice, who was created earl of Kerry (1723), married the daughter of Sir William Petty (q.v.). On the death without issue of Sir William Petty's sons, the first earls of Shelburne, the estates passed to his nephew John Fitzmaurice (advanced in 1753 to the earldom of Shelburne), who in 1751 took the addi tional name of Petty. His son William spent his childhood "in the remotest parts of the south of Ireland," and, according to his own account, when he entered Christ Church, Oxford, in 1755, he had both "everything to learn and everything to unlearn." He served in Wolfe's regiment during the Seven Years' War, and was raised to the rank of colonel and appointed aide-de-camp to the king (1760). In 1761 he succeeded his father as earl of Shelburne. Though he declined to take office under Bute he tried to induce C. J. Fox to gain the consent of the Commons to the peace of 1763. Fox affirmed that he had been duped. Shel burne joined the Grenville ministry in 1763 as president of the Board of Trade, but resigned office in a few months, and retired for a time to his estate. After Pitt's return to power in 1766 he
became secretary of State, but during Pitt's illness his concilia tory policy towards America was completely thwarted by his col leagues and the king, and in 1768 he was dismissed from office. In 1782 he took office under the marquess of Rockingham on condition that the king would recognize the United States. On Lord Rockingham's death he became premier; but the seces sion of Fox and his supporters led to the famous coalition of Fox with North, which caused his resignation, Feb. 1783, his fall being perhaps hastened by his plans for the reform of the public service. He had also in contemplation a bill to promote free commercial intercourse between England and the United States. When Pitt acceded to office in 1784, Shelburne was created marquess of Lansdowne. Though giving a general sup port to the policy of Pitt, he from this time ceased to take an active part in public affairs. He died on May 7, 18o5. John Henry Petty Fitzmaurice (1765-1809), his son by his first mar riage with Lady Sophia Carteret, succeeded as 2nd marquess.