= William Pitt = '''William Pitt''', also called '''Pitt the Elder''', was a [[UnitedKingdom/WhigParty|Whig]] politician and member of the [[UnitedKingdom/Parliament|Parliament]] in [[UnitedKingdom/Democratization|Great Britain]]. <> ---- == History == William was a younger son of '''Robert Pitt''', a member of the [[UnitedKingdom/Parliament|House of Commons]]. His older brother, '''Thomas Pitt''', was elected for two boroughs in 1734; he chose to sit for '''Okehampton''' and passed '''Old Sarum''' to William. He was a member of the [[UnitedKingdom/WhigParty|Patriot Whigs]] and enjoyed mentorship and patronage of both [[UnitedKingdom/Frederick|Frederick]] and [[UnitedKingdom/RichardTemple|Temple]]. He developed a reputation through his criticisms of the [[UnitedKingdom/RobertWalpole|Walpole]] government's decision to not intervene in the [[WorldHistory/WarOfPolishSuccession|War of Polish Succession]]. He argued the '''Anglo-Austrian Alliance''', established by the '''Treaty of Vienna''' in 1731, mandated Great Britain intervene. (In later years, he would also argue that non-intervention enabled [[France/LouisXV|France]] and [[Spain/PhilipV|Spain]] to strengthen and made the [[WorldHistory/SevenYearsWar|Seven Years' War]] inevitable.) Pitt, among others, had his military commission (and therefore his income) dismissed. [[UnitedKingdom/GeorgeII|George II]] personally opposed Pitt's inclusion in the '''Broad Bottom Government''', but was forced to accept his appointment in 1746. His policy positions began to shift towards the Whig mainstream and accordingly he was raised in government. Following the death of [[UnitedKingdom/HenryPelham|Pelham]], [[UnitedKingdom/ThomasPelhamHolles|Pelham-Holles]] became the nominal head of government. In actuality he became the king-maker for the next head. [[UnitedKingdom/HenryFox|Fox]] and Pitt were politically ascendant and the obvious choices, but he chose neither to ensure the next government was not too centralized. Pitt continued to serve in the [[UnitedKingdom/ThomasRobinson|Robinson]] ministry. Shortly thereafter, the peace established by the [[WorldHistory/WarOfAustrianSuccession|Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle]] fell apart. Border skirmishes in the Ohio territory escalated into the '''French and Indian War'''. [[Austria/MariaTheresa|Austria]] entered into a new alliance with [[France/LouisXV|France]]. [[Germany/FrederickII|Frederick the Great]] invaded Austria to seize Saxony and Bohemia, and [[WorldHistory/Hanover|Hanover]] stood between French armies and the emerging war front. The Pelham-Holles government hoped to extend peace by signing defense agreements and subsidizing the defense of Hanover and other continental allies. Pitt and Grenville went public with their disagreements, and were thus dismissed from government. England was not prepared for the [[WorldHistory/SevenYearsWar|Seven Years' War]], and suffered a devastating loss in [[WorldHistory/BalearicIslands|Menorca]]. There were calls to execute members of the government, up to and including Pelham-Holles. A court marshal against MP and Admiral '''John Byng''' was offered up as a scapegoat. Fox and Pelham-Holles both resigned in late 1756 while Byng was executed in early 1757. [[UnitedKingdom/WilliamCavendish|Cavendish]] was offered the opportunity to lead a new government, though Pitt effectively held power. This arrangement lasted only until the Spring; [[UnitedKingdom/William|William]] demanded that Pitt be removed as a condition to taking command over the defense of Hanover, which was accepted. The [[https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/1911_Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica/Chatham,_William_Pitt,_1st_Earl_of|backlash]] was so great that the appointees of a prospective Fox government were turned away in June. Pitt and Pelham-Holles formed a coalition and regained control over government. After George II died in 1760, [[UnitedKingdom/GeorgeIII|George III]] succeeded the throne. He shortly forced the appointment of his close advisor, [[UnitedKingdom/JohnStuart|Stuart]], to government. Stuart and Pelham-Holles together overruled Pitt's intention to declare war against Spain; he resigned in protest. When [[UnitedKingdom/CharlesWatsonWentworth|Watson-Wentworth]] was dismissed in 1766, Pitt was appointed to lead a new government. He was also created '''earl of Chatham''' and '''viscount of Burton Pynsent'''. Pitt resigned in 1768 due to his health, and only returned to the [[UnitedKingdom/Parliament|House of Lords]] two years later. He remained a renowned orator, but his faction greatly diminished over time. He died in 1778. ---- CategoryRicottone