William Pitt the Elder Biography
William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham PC was a British statesman of the Whig group who led the government of Great Britain twice in the middle of the 18th century. Historians call him Pitt or Chatham, or William Pitt the Elder to distinguish from his son, William Pitt the Younger, who also was a prime minister. Pitt was also known as The Great Commoner, because of his long-standing refusal to accept a title until 1766.
Pitt was the member of the British cabinet and its informal leader from 1756 to 1761, during the Seven Years' War. He again led the ministry, holding the official title of Lord Privy Seal, between 1766 and 1768. Much of his power came from his brilliant oratory. He was out of power for most of his career and became famous for his attacks on the government, such as those on Walpole's corruption in the 1730s, Hanoverian subsidies in the 1740s, peace with France in the 1760s, and the uncompromising policy towards the American colonies in the 1770s. Source: Wikipedia
Biography Snapshot
- Name:
- William Pitt the Elder
- Nationality:
- United Kingdom
- Date of Birth:
- November 15, 1708
- Astrological Sign:
- Scorpio
- Date of Death:
- May 11, 1778
- Age at Death:
- 69
Marriages
William Pitt the Elder Timeline
Cite this page
APA Style
William Pitt the Elder. (2023). The HistoryHop.com website. Retrieved 7:45am UTC, Dec 6, 2023, from historyhop.com/famous-people/william-pitt-the-elder/bio.
Harvard Style
William Pitt the Elder. [Internet]. 2023. The HistoryHop.com website. Available from: historyhop.com/famous-people/william-pitt-the-elder/bio [Accessed 06 Dec 2023].
MLA Style
"William Pitt the Elder." Bio. The HistoryHop.com website, 2023. Web. 06 Dec 2023.
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