Pitt, William, known as Pitt the Younger 1759-1806
English statesman

William Pitt, the Younger was born in Hayes near Bromley, the second son of the Earl of Chatham. He suffered poor health as a child and was educated at home, although by the age of 14 his condition had improved sufficiently for him to go to Pembroke Hall, Cambridge, where he graduated at the age of 17. He was called to the Bar in 1780 but clearly saw his career in the political field. He failed to win a seat at Cambridge on his first attempt but was elected for Appleby in 1781.

Pitt joined the opposition to Lord Frederick North and soon made his mark as an orator. At the age of 23 he became Chancellor of the Exchequer and leader of the Commons in the ministry of Lord Shelburne, replacing Charles James Fox, who then became his bitter rival. When Shelburne resigned in 1783 the king offered Pitt the premiership but he declined, leaving it to William Bentinck, 3rd Duke of Portland. However, when Portland's government collapsed in December of the same year, Pitt decided to accept the challenge and, at the age of 24, became Britain's youngest prime minister.

Pitt had clear ideas of what he wished to achieve. He wanted good relations with America, union with Ireland, a reduction in the national debt, reform of parliament, and reorganization of the East India Company. He did not achieve all his aims but, despite his inexperience and fierce opposition from Fox, made considerable progress. He took steps to reduce the national debt, passed the India Act of 1784 to establish dual control of the East India Company, effected a division between the French and English through the Canada Act of 1791, and achieved union with Ireland in 1800.

In 1801 the king refused to approve his Bill to emancipate the Catholics and Pitt resigned in protest, but within three years he was persuaded to return in the face of a threatened invasion by Napoleon I. He formed a coalition with Russia, Austria and Sweden, and the French were defeated at Trafalgar (1805). Pitt was hailed as the saviour of Europe, and his words of reply became immortal: 'England has saved herself by her exertions, and will, I trust, save Europe by her example'. He was dismayed when the coalition he had formed broke up and Napoleon triumphed against the Russians and Austrians at Austerlitz in 1805. He died nearly 10 years before Napoleon's final defeat at Waterloo.

Although Pitt was a popular national figure his private life was comparatively sad and lonely. He had no close friends and did not marry. He died so heavily in debt that the House of Commons raised �40,000 to pay off his creditors.

Bibliography: Robin Reilly, William Pitt the Younger (1979); Derek Jarrett, Pitt the Younger (1978); J Holland Rose, William Pitt and National Revival (1911).