William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham, was a remarkable statesman and orator in eighteenth-century England. He is known to as William Pitt the Elder to distinguish himself from his namesake son, William Pitt the Younger. He entered politics at a period when the United Kingdom was experiencing difficulties. He dominated the political scene from the start, shaking the nation out of its slumber with his remarkable oratory. In various positions, he led the country from 1756 to 1757, 1757 to 1762, and 1766 to 1768. When he was in power, though, he was equally powerful. He made a lot of enemies during his long political career. Despite this, no one could ignore him due to his unrivaled political acumen, legislative skills, and extensive knowledge. He also got the support of the general public. By consistently renouncing titles, he not only improved the masses’ confidence but also won their hearts. As a result, he became known as The Great Commoner. He did, however, accept peerage near the conclusion of his career because he need a seat in the House of Lords. He was a man who committed his life to serve the country.
Childhood and Adolescence
William Pitt was born on November 15, 1708, into a politically powerful family in Westminster, London. His grandfather was the Governor of Madras, and his father, Robert Pitt, served in Parliament from 1705 to 1727. Harriet Pitt nee Villiers, his mother, was also from a prominent family.
William was one of six children. His elder brother, Thomas Pitt, was a Member of Parliament after inheriting his father’s land. Harriet, Catherine, Ann, Elizabeth, and Mary were among his five sisters.
William was admitted to Eton College in 1719. His stay there was not pleasant. Moreover, around this time, he experienced his first episode of gout, a condition that would plague him for the rest of his life.
William was admitted as a ‘gentleman commoner’ to Trinity College in 1727. However, a strong bout of gout forced him to abandon his studies in 1728. He subsequently spent some time traveling around Europe before enrolling at Utrecht University in the Dutch Republic, where he completed his degree in 1730.
William Pitt’s Career
In the British army, William Pitt began his career as a commissioned officer. With the support of his friends, he has appointed a coronet. His military career was cut short, and he was elected to Parliament as a representative of Old Serum in 1735. He was 27 years old at the time.
Sir Roberts Walpole of the Whig Party was Prime Minister of Great Britain at the time. Pitt joined the opposition Patriot Whigs and quickly rose through the ranks to become one of its most important members. Walpole was effectively opposed by the faction. Pitt made his first public address in 1736.
Despite the fact that the speech was of minor historical significance, it assisted him in gaining the attention of the parliament. He immediately moved on to more pertinent topics and lambasted the administration on multiple occasions, particularly for its non-intervention in the European war.
Walpole had him removed from the army as a retaliation. Frederick, Prince of Wales, compensated him for his loss of commission by appointing him as his Groom of the Bed Chamber. This resolved his financial issues, allowing him to focus on his political career.
Pitt continued to criticize the government, particularly Prime Minister Walpole. He advocated for war against Spain and opposed assistance to Hanover and Austria. He also backed a resolution calling for an investigation of Walpole’s final years in power. Walpole eventually had to quit. That happened in 1742.
Despite his resignation as Prime Minister, Walpole remained the real source of power until his death in 1745. Pitt had already enraged King George II with his opinions on Hanover by that time. Because many Whig leaders were against him, he was unable to benefit from the transition of power.
Pitt had made a lot of friends by this point. When the Dowager Duchess of Marlborough died in 1744, she left him a ten-thousand-pound legacy as a thank you for his service to the country. It significantly improved his financial situation and allowed him to focus on his work.
Pitt, wiser now, altered his ways and made an effort to repair his relationship with the King. In 1746, he was appointed Vice-Treasurer of Ireland, and in May, he was appointed Pay Master General, a lucrative position that had been abused by past Pay Masters to gain personal fortune.
Pitt captured many hearts with his openness and honesty. He also received a seat on the Privy Council as a result of his appointment. He continued to work closely with the government while also criticizing the leadership for its reluctance to move quickly on a number of issues and for its war policies. As a result, he was fired in 1755.
The Duke of Newcastle, the Prime Minister, was compelled to resign in 1756. He was accused of leaving Minorca’s defenses insufficient in order to demonstrate that signing peace treaties with France was in England’s best interests. Pitt, George Grenville, and the Duke of Devonshire then constituted the government.
The Duke of Devonshire became Prime Minister, while Pitt became Leader of the House of Commons and Secretary of State for the Southern Department. However, the Duke of Newcastle remained influential, and King George II remained hostile to him.
A number of problems divided Pitt and Grenville. Pitt, for example, opposed the government’s continental policy and attacked Admiral John Byng’s court-martial and execution. As a result, he was removed from office in 1757, but was quickly reinstated.
Pitt and the Duke of Newcastle now established the administration. By that time, the Seven Year’s War had begun between Britain and France, and Britain had already suffered several military losses at the hands of France. Pitt focussed on war efforts while Newcastle dealt with domestic matters.
Britain’s war policy had been a failure till then. Pitt decided to change that. He beefed up the navy and dispatched fleets to blockade French ports. He also began the practice of Naval Descents and encouraged countries such as Prussia to fight alongside Britain.
His plan was to encircle France in Europe while the British navy snatched French ports all over the globe. British victories in North America and India were the outcome of his plan. He intended to keep fighting until France was completely vanquished.
Pitt had a noteworthy year in 1759. The British troops triumphed in every battle under his command, and he deserves most of the credit. By 1760, Britain had also conquered Montreal, and Pitt’s popularity and authority had peaked.
He did, however, face opposition from the opposite side. In 1760, King George III took the throne. He had his own views and surrounded himself with his own men. A confrontation erupted almost immediately. While Pitt desired to declare war on Spain, others feared that doing so would make Britain appear to be the aggressor. The cabinet rejected several of his suggestions.
Pitt left his position in 1761. He spent the next five years in opposition, opposing government policies. He thought Britain was too tolerant when it signed treaties with France. He was also critical of the government’s policies toward America. His popularity grew as a result of his achievements, both at home and abroad.
Pitt was asked to lead yet another coalition administration in 1766. He entered the House of Lords this time, and in order to do so, he had to assume the title of ‘Earl of Chatham.’ Ordinary people who admired him for refusing to take any titles were disillusioned, and he lost support.
He was also not particularly effective in other areas. He lacked direct authority over the administration and demonstrated his inability to rule. He was against the Stamp Duty placed on America, but he couldn’t come up with a solution that would satisfy both Britain and America.
One by one, his devoted pastors began to resign. He resigned from his office in 1768 but continued to visit Parliament and speak on numerous matters until his death at the age of 69.
William’s Major Projects
William Pitt is most known for saving the United Kingdom from a devastating loss at the hands of France. Pitt’s foresight shifted the tide of the war to Britain’s advantage. Many historians believe that if he hadn’t been in charge of the government at the time, the Seven Years’ War would have lasted thirty years.
Pitt is credited with becoming Britain’s first imperialist. He began by seizing French colonies and transferring them to the British administration. Despite his lack of personal engagement in India, his superb plans allowed the empire to grow to other regions of the globe.
Personal History and Legacy
William Pitt married Lady Hester Grenville, the daughter of the 1st Countess Temple, on November 16, 1754. Pitt was roughly 46 years old at the time of their wedding, and Hester was 34. They had been friends for twenty years at that point.
Hester, Harriet, John, William, and James were the children of their happy marriage. William Pitt the Younger was one of them, and he served as Prime Minister on multiple occasions.
On May 11, 1778, William Pitt the Elder died. Even at his advanced age, he used to go to Parliament on a daily basis. He fell in the House of Lords on April 7, 1778, while giving a speech criticizing the government for withdrawing troops from the colonies. He was transferred to Hayes Hospital, where he died a month after the incident.
Despite his detractors, historians have dubbed him “the finest statesman of eighteenth-century England.” Everyone came together after his death to pay tribute to him and petitioned the monarch for a state funeral.
His mortal remains are now interred in Westminster Abbey. His tomb has also been marked with a public monument. On his grave, an inscription reads, “By whom commerce was connected with and made to flourish by battle.”
Estimated Net worth
William is one of the wealthiest world leaders and one of the most popular. William Pitt’s net worth is estimated to be $1.5 million, according to Wikipedia, Forbes, and Business Insider.