1. www.theeducationforum.co.uk Who was William Pitt the Younger and in what context did he come to power in 1783?

2. Who Was He? Born in 1759 the second son of the Earl of Chatham (also called William Pitt) Very bright boy went to University of Cambridge aged 14 where he studied Classics At University became friend with William Wilberforce (later to become the famous Anti Slavery campaigner) and a follower of the economist Adam Smith and his ideas of free trade, small government and laissez faire. In 1781 Pitt was nominated for a Tory pocket borough and was elected without ever having to visit the constituency

3. The Political Context Pitt entered Parliament at a time when George III was exerting considerable political power over the government. The government of the time was a Tory one led by Lord North who was content to let the King dominate policy. George III had at least 70 Tory M.P.’s directly under his control through the ‘power of patronage’ (use of titles and pensions) and the majority of the House of Lords. The government was almost under the personal control of the King. The failure to win the American War of independence however led to pressure for change and In 1782 Lord North resigned and the King was forced to invite the Whigs under Lord Rockingham to form a government.

4. Lord Rockingham’s Government Lord Rockingham offered Pitt a minor role in the government which he refused. This left Pitt with the freedom of the ‘backbencher’ to make speeches sometimes in support and sometimes in criticism of the government. He gained the reputation of an intelligent politician and skilled debater. Lord Rockingham’s government only lasted 3 months because in June 1782 he died and the King invited another leading Whig Lord Shelbourne to form a new government. This time Pitt was offered the post of Chancellor of the Exchequer which he accepted.

5. Lord Shelbourne’s Government Formally ended the American War and recognised the independence of the American colonies Shelbourne was brought down by rivals within the Whig party and his government was replaced by what became know as the Fox-North Coalition It was the Fox-North Coalition which signed the unfavourable Treaty of Versailles in 1783 with the Americans and it itself was brought down by a House of Lords rebellion against the government orchestrated by the King. The King was now able to invite Pitt to form a Tory government aged 24 – still the youngest ever Prime Minister

6. Pitt’s Position in 1783 No majority in the Commons, but an in built Tory majority in the Lords PM at a period of crisis – humiliating loss of American colonies, massive National Debt of 242 million and huge deficit Had to work with a King who was used to being in charge but with a Whig majority in the Commons who opposed the power of the King. (Pitt himself, though a Tory, had voted in favour of reducing the power of the King in the Whig Economics reform Bill 1782). Aged only 24 in a Parliament of significantly older men.