The Connecticut childhood home of William F. Buckley Jr., a key figure in the modern conservative movement, is currently on the market for $5.5 million. The estate, known as Great Elm, is a Georgian colonial mansion built in 1812 and spans 8,872 square feet.
Located in Sharon, Connecticut, the home features eight bedrooms and nine bathrooms, with Art Deco designs and a New Orleans-inspired three-story atrium. The primary bedroom suite on the main level includes a sitting room and wood-burning fireplace, while upstairs bedrooms serve as a gym and office. Outdoor amenities include a heated pool, pool house, and courts for tennis and paddle/pickleball.
William F. Buckley Jr., born in 1925, was the founder of the National Review magazine and the host of the PBS show Firing Line for over 30 years. He was a Yale graduate and authored "God and Man at Yale," criticizing the institution's secularist influences. Buckley ran for mayor of New York City in 1965, garnering 13.4 percent of the vote, which ultimately led to his PBS hosting role.
The property is listed by Laurie Dunham and Diana Bisselle of William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty. Buckley Jr. passed away in 2008 at the age of 82 after battling diabetes and emphysema.