Pitt, William (1708-1778), the first Earl of Chatham, was a British statesman. He is chiefly remembered as the “organizer of victory” and empire builder during the Seven Years’ War (1756-1763), and for his powerful defense of the rights of the American colonists. Pitt served as prime minister of Great Britain (now also called the United Kingdom) from July 1766 to October 1768.
William Pitt was born in Westminster on Nov. 15, 1708. He was the son of a member of Parliament and attended Eton College and Oxford University. In 1735, he entered Parliament. From the first, Pitt distinguished himself by his fiery attacks on Prime Minister Sir Robert Walpole and on the practice of subsidizing troops from the German electorate (territory) of Hanover with British money.
Pitt ended his attacks after he was appointed paymaster general of the British military forces in 1746. In this office, he acquired a reputation for unusual honesty. Eventually, however, he bitterly denounced both the government’s war policy and the weakness of its leader, the Duke of Newcastle. This action led directly to Pitt’s dismissal in 1755. But he returned to office as secretary of state in 1756, when British military failures during the Seven Years’ War led to Newcastle’s fall from power. Pitt was again forced from office in 1757, but he returned the same year. “I know,” he said, “that I can save this country, and that no one else can.”
Pitt’s task seemed insurmountable. On every side he found defeat and confusion. However, in five years, the United Kingdom gained great success, for which Pitt took the credit. He sent troops and money to Frederick the Great of Prussia and attacked France on all fronts. Great victories, especially in 1759, marked his policy everywhere. The French were defeated in India, America, Europe, and the West Indies, as well as on the sea. But other British ministers opposed Pitt when he demanded that war also be declared on Spain. He resigned as secretary of state in 1761.
During the next five years, Pitt resumed his opposition to the government. He denounced the Peace of Paris (1763) as far too lenient and aroused the British people to criticize the House of Commons. Pitt also denounced British policy toward the American colonists. As a result, he became an extremely popular figure in America.
Pitt was too powerful to remain out of office for long. In July 1766, he became prime minister and had his first opportunity at full control of the government. But his ministry lacked unity, and he lost political influence when he entered the House of Lords as the Earl of Chatham in August. He and his ministers proved incapable of solving troubles in America and India. Although Pitt had been an outstanding wartime leader, he had neither the patience nor the temperament for political cooperation and administration. He also failed to deal successfully with financial problems. Within a few months, Pitt was disabled by mental illness. He resigned his post as prime minister in October 1768.
During the next 10 years, Pitt remained politically ineffective because of poor health. He supported parliamentary reform. He also protested against British policy in America and worked to satisfy grievances. Pitt’s commitment to such causes limited his popularity in Britain, and he failed to gain much of a following. But he always remained capable of dominating his listeners, and his last speeches on the American war were among his best. He died on May 11, 1778, in Hayes, Kent. Pitt’s son William Pitt the Younger served as prime minister of the United Kingdom from 1783 to 1801 and from 1804 to 1806.
