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| William Pitt was a younger son of [[UnitedKingdom/WilliamPitt|William Pitt]] (same name), '''earl of Chatham'''. | William Pitt was a younger son of [[UnitedKingdom/WilliamPitt|William Pitt]] (same name), '''earl of Chatham'''. His father died in 1778. |
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| TODO: learn some history! | Pitt began his legal career in 1780, and just a few months later stood for his first [[UnitedKingdom/Parliament|Parliamentary]] election. The next year, he earned the sponsorship of '''Charles Manners''', '''duke of Rutland''', which afforded him a pocket borough. He rose rapidly as an oppositional speaker, associating with [[UnitedKingdom/WhigParty|Whigs]] such as [[UnitedKingdom/CharlesJamesFox|Fox]]. When [[UnitedKingdom/FrederickNorth|North]] resigned, Pitt was offered a minor position in the [[UnitedKingdom/CharlesWatsonWentworth|Watson-Wentworth]] ministry, but he declined. Watson-Wentworth nonetheless died just a few months later. |
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| ---- | The rivalry between Pitt and Fox was created during the succeeding [[UnitedKingdom/WilliamPetty|Petty]] government. Pitt entered government and was made [[UnitedKingdom/Treasury|chancellor]]. Fox meanwhile refused to serve in this cabinet, and formed a coalition with North that succeeded in forcing Petty's resignation within a year. From the opposition, he became a leading advocate for addressing rotten boroughs and bribery; the Whigs were split by these salient issues. |
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| [[UnitedKingdom/GeorgeIII|Goerge III]] strongly disfavored Fox and repeatedly pushed for Pitt to instead form a government. He managed to force things in late 1783, when the Commons passed the '''East India Bill''' to reform the failing East India Company. George declared to the Lords that anyone who voted for the bill would be his enemy. After the bill's defeat, he dismissed the government and appointed Pitt. At 24 he was and is the youngest PM in history. | |
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| Pitt however did not command a majority in the Commons. Despite immediately losing a vote of confidence, he refused to resign. Obviously he was supported by George; the Lords passed motions of support for him and [[UnitedKingdom/London|London]] granted him Freedom of the City. | |
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| == Policies == | Elections were called in March 1784 and handed Pitt a commanding majority. Pitt himself also switched to a competitive borough in this election; he now stood for [[UnitedKingdom/Cambridge|Cambridge]], which he has unsuccessfully contested in 1780. |
William Pitt
William Pitt, also called Pitt the Younger, was a Tory politician and member of the Parliament in the United Kingdom.
Contents
History
William Pitt was a younger son of William Pitt (same name), earl of Chatham. His father died in 1778.
Pitt began his legal career in 1780, and just a few months later stood for his first Parliamentary election. The next year, he earned the sponsorship of Charles Manners, duke of Rutland, which afforded him a pocket borough. He rose rapidly as an oppositional speaker, associating with Whigs such as Fox. When North resigned, Pitt was offered a minor position in the Watson-Wentworth ministry, but he declined. Watson-Wentworth nonetheless died just a few months later.
The rivalry between Pitt and Fox was created during the succeeding Petty government. Pitt entered government and was made chancellor. Fox meanwhile refused to serve in this cabinet, and formed a coalition with North that succeeded in forcing Petty's resignation within a year. From the opposition, he became a leading advocate for addressing rotten boroughs and bribery; the Whigs were split by these salient issues.
Goerge III strongly disfavored Fox and repeatedly pushed for Pitt to instead form a government. He managed to force things in late 1783, when the Commons passed the East India Bill to reform the failing East India Company. George declared to the Lords that anyone who voted for the bill would be his enemy. After the bill's defeat, he dismissed the government and appointed Pitt. At 24 he was and is the youngest PM in history.
Pitt however did not command a majority in the Commons. Despite immediately losing a vote of confidence, he refused to resign. Obviously he was supported by George; the Lords passed motions of support for him and London granted him Freedom of the City.
Elections were called in March 1784 and handed Pitt a commanding majority. Pitt himself also switched to a competitive borough in this election; he now stood for Cambridge, which he has unsuccessfully contested in 1780.
TODO: learn some history!