Though entered at Oxford, he soon left his books for the army and was present at the siege and taking of Belgrade in 1717.

Peace descending, the young man returned to England, and on the death of his elder brother came into the estate, and was presently made Member of Parliament for Haslemere in Surrey.
His character was a firm and generous one; his bent, markedly humane.
"Strong benevolence of soul," Pope says he had.

His century, too, was becoming humane, was inquiring into ancient wrongs.

There arose, among other things, a belated notion of prison reform.

The English Parliament undertook an investigation, and Oglethorpe was of those named to examine conditions and to make a report.