Petrie, William Matthew Flinders

Basic Biographical Information

William Matthew Flinders Petrie was born on 3 June 1853 in Kent, England. The only child of a middle-class Victorian family, his father William Petrie was an inventor and surveyor, while his mother Anne was the only daughter of famed explorer and navigator, Matthew Flinders. After a severe childhood illness almost claimed his life, Petrie’s parents were advised to restrict his contact with other children to avoid any further risks to his health. As a result, Petrie never attended a formal school and was instead homeschooled by his mother; by 10, Petrie had taught himself chemistry and minerology (Drower 1985: 15–17). As a child and young teenager, his parents took him on many family holidays to measure and survey ancient British monuments, and this provided Petrie with a solid foundation in surveying and recording techniques. In 1874, Petrie and his father surveyed Stonehenge for the first time and completed the study by June 1877; after which young...