PITT, WHJAAm, first Earl of Chatham (1708 78). A famous English statesman. often referred to as the elder Pitt. He was born in West minster on November 15, 1705, and %vas edu cated at Eton and Trinity College. Oxford, hut he never took a degree. for lie was afflicted with gout from an early age, and was advised to travel, which lie did for a short Hine. Neverthe less the disease never left him, and throughout life it. remained a very serious hindrance. In 1731 he became a cornet in the army, and in 1735 entered Parliament for Old Sarum, the typical example of the 'rotten' boroughs. Soon after entering Parliament he was dismissed from the army for supporting Frederick, Prince of Wales, in his course of opposition to King George II., and his hiting satire made him also very obnoxious to the powerful minister, Robert Walpole. Almost from the very beginning Pitt was a power among the Commons on account of his oratorical abilities, and lie contributed much to bringing about the downfall of Walpole in 1742. Thereafter he opposed the foreign policy of C'arteret, especially the practice of paying subsidies to the Continental powers. His policy became very popular among the people; the Duchess of :Marlborough left him in 17-14 a legacy of £10,000. and in 1765 Sir William Pyn sent, an eccentric gentleman. struck also with admiration for Pitt'; patriotism, left him his whole estate. Late in 1744 some of Pitt's asso ciates obtained seats in the Cabinet of Pelham, but the King hail not yet forgiven l'itt. In 1746 the Government resigned, but shortly resumed power, and l'itt was appointed joint urer of Ireland, and in the same year he was given the lucrative office of paymaster-general of the and became a member of the Privy Council. At this time he received great praise for declining the special emoluments which usually went with the position of paymaster-general. In 1755, when Henry Fox (afterwards Lord Hol land) was made Secretary of State, Pitt vigor ously opposed the foreign policy of the Newcastle Cabinet, and as a consequence he was dismissed from office. Meanwhile the Seven Years' War (q.v.) had begun, and though Frederick the Great (11.v.) was gaining victories on the Con tinent, the English campaigns in America and elsewhere were unsuccessful. Hence in 1756 the King had to call upon Pitt, who had become the popular idol, to carry on the Government. A new Cabinet was formed of which the Duke of Devonshire was the nominal Prime _Minister, but all real power was vested in Pitt. The latter immediately began vigorous measures to early on the war, but the King did not give him loyal support and finally dismissed him on April 6, 1757. Be had, however, to recall him almost immediately in response to the demands of the nation, and Pitt was given full control of foreign and military affairs.
Pitt'; war policy was characterized by unusual vigor and sagacity. French armies were defeated everywhere—in India, in Africa. in Canada, on the Rhine—and French fleets disappeared from the seas. Pitt was practically absolute ruler of Britain, and the populace bestowed on him the title of the 'Great Commoner.' A change came,
however, with the accession of George Ill. in 1760. Pitt was forced to take Lord Bute into the Cabinet, and was finally compelled to resign on October 5. 1761. As some recompense for his important services. Pitt received a pension of £30011 a year, and to his wife, sister of George Grenville (q.v.), was given the title of Baroness Chatham. Until 1766 l'itt remained out of office, occasionally employing his eloquence to defeat obnoxious measure- of the Government, and he opposed vigorously the various acts to tax the American colonists. On 30, 1776. Pitt ceeded in forming a new Ministry to succeed the Rockingham Cabinet. and, as health was very poor, he took the sineeure office of Privy Seal, and was created Viscount l'itt and Earl of Chatham. His acceptance of the peerage was very unpopu lar. and he also lost considerable influence. because impassioned eloquence was to move such a •mall of men acc•ustoaed to attend the House of Lords. III health pre \ tinted Chatham from taking an active part in the _Ministry, of which lie was nominally the head. and he resigned on October 14, 1768, never to hold office again.
Chatham, did not cease to take an interest in public affairs. Ile spoke strongly against the arbitrary and policy of the Govcrnment of Lord North toward the American colonies. and did his utmost to procure an amicable settlement of the differences, declaring that had no right, under heaven to tax the colonists." lint when America entered into a treaty with France, and it was proposed to remove the Ministers and make peace on any terms, Chatham, though in a dying state, ap peared in the House of Lords, and in a powerful address protested against the disruption of the Empire and the implied prostration of Great Britain before France. It was the orator's last effort; exhausted by speaking. on rising again to reply to a query addressed to hitn. lie suddenly fell back into the arms of his friends. lle died a few days later, Slay 11. 1778. Ile was hon ored with a public funeral in Westminster Abbey, where a statue was erected to his memory at the publie expense. In addition, the Government gave £20.000 to pay his debts, nail conferred a pension of £4000 a year on his descendants.
l'itt's appearance was dignified and imposing, and added greatly to the attractiveness of his oratory, which svgs of the most powerful kind. Ilis uprightness and irreproachable character compelled the admiration of his enemies; but his affectation and haughtiness frequently disgusted his friends. He hail an intense love of country, Iris ambition being to make his native land safe against all contingencies.
Macaulay's is a very interesting essay. Consult also: Thackeray, History of the Earl of Chatham (2 vols., London, 1827) ; Cob bett. Parliamentary History 1806-20) ; Horace Walpole. heal rs (9 vols., London, 1880); id., lb moirs of the Reign of George 11, vols., London, IS-11•51) ; Green, William Earl of Chatham (London, 1901); Leeky. History of England in the Eighteenth Century ((i Vols.. 3d ed.. London, 18;33-90).