Chatham, William Pitt, 1st Earl of, known as Pitt the Elder 1708-78
English statesman and orator

William Pitt was born in Westminster, the younger son of Robert Pitt of Boconnoc, in Cornwall. He was educated at Eton and Trinity College, Oxford. In 1735 he entered parliament for the family borough, Old Sarum. He sided with Frederick Louis, Prince of Wales, against the king, and as leader of the young 'Patriot' Whigs, offered a determined opposition to Robert Walpole. After Walpole's fall from power, the king admitted Pitt in 1746 to the new administration; he became Paymaster-General, but resigned in 1755.

In 1744 Pitt inherited an income from the Duchess of Marlborough, and the Somerset estate of Burton-Pynsent, which became the family seat of the Pitts. In 1756, on the outbreak of the Seven Years War with France, Pitt became Secretary of State in a coalition government with Sir Thomas Pelham-Holles, 1st Duke of Newcastle. He immediately put into effect his plan of carrying on the war with France, raised the militia, and strengthened naval power. George III's hostility and German predilections led him to resign in April 1757, only to be recalled in June, in response to popular demands.

His vigorous war policy was widely successful against the French on land (in India, Africa, Canada, and on the Rhine) and at sea, but Pitt himself was compelled to resign (1761) when the majority of the cabinet refused to declare war with Spain. Pitt received a pension of �3,000 a year, and his wife, sister of George Grenville, was created Baroness Chatham.

His imposing appearance and his magnificent voice added greatly to the attractions of his oratory. His character was irreproachable, though his haughtiness irritated even his friends. He formed a new ministry from 1766 to 1768, with a seat in the House of Lords as Viscount Pitt and Earl of Chatham. However, ill health prevented him from taking any active part in this ministry, and after his resignation (1768) he held no further office. He spoke strongly against the arbitrary and harsh policy towards the American colonies, and warmly urged an amicable settlement. However when it was proposed to make peace on any terms, Chatham came down to the House of Lords (2 April 1778), and in his final speech secured a majority against the motion. But the effort exhausted him and he collapsed into the arms of his friends. A few weeks later, he was dead.

Chatham was honoured with a public funeral and a statue in Westminster Abbey; government voted �20,000 to pay his debts, and conferred a pension of �4,000 a year on his descendants. His second son was William Pitt, the Younger.

Bibliography: Stanley Ayling, The Elder Pitt: Earl of Chatham (1976); Peter D Brown, William Pitt, Earl of Chatham (1938); Basil Williams, Life of William Pitt, Earl of Chatham (2 vols, 1913).