Who was William Pitt (The Elder)?
Statesman.
Date and Place of Birth:
15th November 1708, Westminster, London, England.
Family Background:
Son of Robert Pitt from Boconnoc in Cornwall,
the Member of Parliament for Old Sarum in Wiltshire and grandson
of Thomas Pitt, the Governor of Madras in India for the East India
Company.
Education:
Eton College. Trinity College, Oxford, but left
after one year without taking degree.
Chronology/Biography of Pitt the Elder:
1735: After leaving
Oxford University Pitt entered Parliament for the family Borough
of Old Sarurm where he was immediately attracting attention due
to his opposition to the Prime Minister Sir Robert Walpole as one
of the leading lights in the young "Patriot" Whigs. He
also sided with Frederick Louis, the Prince of Wales against the
King.
1744: Inherited
an income from the Duchess of Marlborough and the Somerset estate
of Burton Pynsent then became the family seat of the Pitts.
1746: William Pitt
was appointed Paymaster General by Henry Pelham.
1755: Continued
as Paymaster under Sir Thomas Pelham-Holles, Duke of Newcastle's
administration caused by the death of Pelham but was dismissed in
November due to his criticism over the government's war policy.
1756: Pitt was appointed
Secretary of State for the Southern Department in a coalition with
Newcastle, at the outbreak of the Seven Years War with France and
immediately put into place war plans and raised a militia and strengthened
the Navy.
1757: (April) Resigned
due to antipathy from the King. (June) Recalled and appointed Leader
of the House of Commons due to public demand, in a coalition with
the Duke of Newcastle. During the next few years he oversaw defeats
of the French in India and Canada
1761: Disagreements
with the new King George the Third led to his resignation particularly
as the majority of the Cabinet refused to declare war on Spain.
He then spent five years in opposition. Pitt received a pension
of £3,000 and his wife, a sister of George Grenville, was
created Baroness Chatham, thus making him the First Earl of Chatham.
During this time he was bitterly opposed to the government's attitude
to the American colonies and in particular hated the harsh measures
then being introduced.
1766: Pitt was recalled
and became Lord Privy Seal and thus nominal Prime Minister, in another
coalition government which he controlled from the House of Lords
as Viscount Pitt, Earl of Chatham. This time was less successful
than his first period of office however, and he also suffered from
ill health. Although he did not agree with American independence
he was still heavily opposed by the crown and opposition for his
stance towards the colonies.
1768: William Pitt
resigned as Prime Minister. Spent much of his later time in Parliament
calling for parliamentary reform and the relaxation of colonial
policies.
1778: (2nd April)
Opposed to peace with America on any terms he went to the House
of Lords for the last time and secured a vote against the motion.
The effort of the debate exhausted him and he collapsed into the
arms of his friends witnessed by his son William
Pitt the Younger. He died a few weeks later and was given a
public funeral and the government paid off his substantial debts.
Marriage:
To Lady Hester Grenville.
Date and Place of Death:
11th May 1788, Hayes, Kent, England.
Age at Death:
79.
Site of Grave:
North Transcept, Westminster Abbey, London, England.
Westminster Abbey, London
(© Anthony Blagg)
Places of Interest:
AVON:
Lived at No 7 The Circus, Bath
LONDON:
Houses of Parliament
British Museum
