William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham Guide, Meaning , Facts, Information and Description
William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham, commonly known as William Pitt the Elder, (November 15, 1708 - May 11, 1778) was an English politician, born in London, who was the nominal Prime Minister and Lord Privy Seal (1766-68) and Secretary of State for the Southern Department (1756-61). Pitt served during the reign of George II and George III.After attending Oxford, Pitt entered Parliament, where his opposition to the Prime Minister, Sir Robert Walpole, attracted attention. He served as Paymaster General in Henry Pelham's government (May 6, 1746 - November 20, 1755) and, after Pelham's death, the Duke of Newcastle's, before being dismissed for his criticism of the government's war policy. Following Newcastle's resignation in 1756, Pitt entered the Duke of Devonshire's government as Secretary of State, Southern Department (December 4, 1756 - April 6, 1757, and later Leader of the House of Commons June 27, 1757 - October 5, 1761).
After a brief interlude, Pitt was recalled by King George II and became Prime Minister in a coalition government with Newcastle. As wartime Prime Minister Pitt oversaw the defeat of France in India and Canada before his disagreements with King George III led to his resignation in 1761. During his five subsequent years of opposition, Pitt criticized the government's policies towards the American colonies, opposing harsh measures.
Pitt was recalled in 1766 and formed a second coalition government, not nearly successful as the first. Although ostensibly pro-American, Pitt was not for independence and he faced opposition from the Crown and his fellow ministers. Having been previously raised to the peerage as the Earl of Chatham, he resigned in October, 1768. Until his death in 1778 Chatham called for parliamentary reform and the relaxation of colonial policies.
Chatham's second son, William Pitt the Younger, was a prominent Tory statesman at the end of the 18th century.
| Preceded by: Thomas Winnington | Paymaster of the Forces 1746-1755 | Followed by: The Earl of Darlington and The Viscount Dupplin |
| Preceded by: Henry Fox | Leader of the House of Commons 1756-1761 | Followed by: George Grenville |
| Secretary of State for the Southern Department 1756-1757 | Followed by: The Earl of Holdernesse | |
| Preceded by: The Earl of Holdernesse | Secretary of State for the Southern Department 1757-1761 | Followed by: The Earl of Egremont |
| Preceded by: The Marquess of Rockingham | Prime Minister of Great Britain 1766-1768 | Followed by: The Duke of Grafton |
| Preceded by: The Duke of Newcastle | Lord Privy Seal 1766-1768 | Followed by: The Earl of Bristol |
| Preceded by: New Creation | Earl of Chatham | Followed by: John Pitt |
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