William Pitt the Younger

The Right Honourable William Pitt, the Younger (28 May 1759–23 January 1806) was a British politician during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. He served as Prime Minister from 1783 to 1801, and again from 1804 until his death. He is known as William Pitt the Younger to distinguish him from his father, William Pitt the Elder, who also served as Prime Minister of Great Britain.

Early political career

During the general elections of September 1780, Pitt contested the University of Cambridge seat, but lost. Still intent to enter Parliament, Pitt, with the help of his university comrade, Charles Manners, 4th Duke of Rutland, secured the patronage of Sir James Lowther. Lowther effectively controlled the pocket borough of Appleby; a by-election in that constituency sent Pitt to the House of Commons in January 1781. Pitt's entry into government is somewhat ironic; Pitt later rallied against the very same rotten boroughs that gained him his seat.

Related Topics:
Charles Manners, 4th Duke of Rutland - Sir James Lowther - Pocket borough - Appleby - 1781

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In Parliament, the youthful Pitt cast aside the withdrawn and aloof nature that characterised him during his university days, emerging as a noted parliamentarian and debater. Pitt originally aligned himself with prominent Whigs such as Charles James Fox. With the Whigs, Pitt denounced the continuation of the American War of Independence. Instead, he proposed that Prime Minister, Frederick North, Lord North, make peace with the rebellious American colonies. Moreover, Pitt supported parliamentary reform measures, including a proposal that would have checked electoral corruption.

Related Topics:
Whig - Charles James Fox - American War of Independence - Frederick North, Lord North

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Lord North's ministry having collapsed in 1782, the Whig Charles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd Marquess of Rockingham was appointed Prime Minister. Pitt was offered the minor post of Vice-Treasurer of Ireland; however, demonstrating extraordinary self-confidence, he refused to accept the position, which he deemed too subordinate for him. Only three months after he came to power, Lord Rockingham died, to be succeeded by another Whig, William Petty, 2nd Earl of Shelburne. Many Whigs who had formed a part of the Rockingham ministry, including Charles James Fox, now refused to serve under the new Prime Minister. Pitt, however, was not reluctant to join the Shelburne Government, and was appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Related Topics:
1782 - Charles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd Marquess of Rockingham - William Petty, 2nd Earl of Shelburne - Charles James Fox - Chancellor of the Exchequer

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Fox, who became Pitt's lifelong political rival, then joined a coalition with Lord North, with whom he collaborated to bring about the defeat of the Shelburne administration. When Lord Shelburne resigned in 1783, King George III, who despised Fox, offered to appoint Pitt to the office of Prime Minister. Pitt, however, wisely declined, realising that he would be incapable of securing the support of the House of Commons. The Fox-North Coalition took power in a Government nominally headed by William Cavendish-Bentinck, 3rd Duke of Portland.

Related Topics:
1783 - King George III - Fox-North Coalition - William Cavendish-Bentinck, 3rd Duke of Portland

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Pitt, who no longer remained Chancellor of the Exchequer, joined the Opposition. He raised the issue of parliamentary reform in order to strain the uneasy Fox-North Coalition, which included both supporters and detractors of reform. He did not advocate an expansion of the electoral franchise, but he did seek to address bribery and rotten boroughs. Though his proposal failed, many reformers in Parliament came to regard him as their leader, in the place of Charles James Fox.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~