William Pitt the Elder
William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham, commonly known as William Pitt the Elder, (November 15, 1708 - May 11, 1778) was an English politician, born in London, who was the nominal Prime Minister and Lord Privy Seal (1766-68) and Secretary of State for the Southern Department (1756-61). Pitt served during the reign of George II and George III.
After attending Oxford, Pitt entered Parliament, where his opposition to the Prime Minister, Sir Robert Walpole, attracted attention. He served as Paymaster General in Henry Pelham's government (May 6, 1746 - November 20, 1755) and, after Pelham's death, the Duke of Newcastle's, before being dismissed for his criticism of the government's war policy. Following Newcastle's resignation in 1756, Pitt entered the Duke of Devonshire's government as Secretary of State, Southern Department (December 4, 1756 - April 6, 1757, and later Leader of the House of Commons June 27, 1757 - October 5, 1761).
After a brief interlude, Pitt was recalled by King George II and became Prime Minister in a coalition government with Newcastle. As wartime Prime Minister Pitt oversaw the defeat of France in India and Canada before his disagreements with King George III led to his resignation in 1761. During his five subsequent years of opposition, Pitt criticized the government's policies towards the American colonies, opposing harsh measures.
Pitt was recalled in 1766 and formed a second coalition government, not nearly successful as the first. Although ostensibly pro-American, Pitt was not for independence and he faced opposition from the Crown and his fellow ministers. Having been previously raised to the peerage as the Earl of Chatham, he resigned in October, 1768. Until his death in 1778 Chatham called for parliamentary reform and the relaxtion of colonial policies.
Chatham's second son, William Pitt the Younger, was a prominent Tory statesman at the end of the 18th century.
Referenced By
Archibald Philip Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery | Archibald Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery | Charles Townshend | Frederick, Lord North | Frederick North | Frederick North, 2nd Earl of Guilford | Frederick North, Lord North | George William Hervey, 2nd Earl of Bristol | George William Hervey, 5th Earl of Bristol | Henry Addington | Henry Addington, 1st Viscount Sidmouth | Junius | List of people by name: Pi | Lord North | Lord Privy Seal | Paymaster | Paymaster of the Forces | Philip Francis | Pitt County, North Carolina | Richard Grenville-Temple, 1st Earl Temple | Richard Grenville-Temple, 2nd Earl Temple | Richard Price | Rotten Borough | Secretary of State (Southern Department) | Secretary of State for the Southern Department | Thomas Pownall | Thomas Townshend | Thomas Townshend, 1st Baron Sydney | Thomas Townshend, 1st Viscount Sydney | William Cavendish, 4th Duke of Devonshire | William Murray, 1st Earl of Mansfield | William Petty Fitzmaurice | William Petty Fitzmaurice, 1st Marquess of Lansdowne | William Pitt
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