William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham was a British Whig statesman who served as Prime Minister of Great Britain from 1766 to 1768. Historians call him Chatham or William Pitt the Elder to distinguish him from his son William Pitt the Younger, who was also a prime minister. Pitt was also known as the Great Commoner, because of his long-standing refusal to accept a title until 1766.
Pitt was a member of the British cabinet and its informal leader from 1756 to 1761 (with a brief interlude in 1757), during the Seven Years' War (including the French and Indian War in the American colonies). He again led the ministry, holding the official title of Lord Privy Seal, between 1766 and 1768. Much of his power came from his brilliant oratory. He was out of power for most of his career and became well known for his attacks on the government, such as those on Walpole's corruption in the 1730s, Hanoverian subsidies in the 1740s, peace with France in the 1760s, and the uncompromising policy towards the American colonies in the 1770s.
Pitt is best known as the wartime political leader of Britain in the Seven Years' War, especially for his single-minded devotion to victory over France, a victory which ultimately solidified Britain's dominance over world affairs. He is also known for his popular appeal, his opposition to corruption in government, his support for the American position in the run-up to the American Revolutionary War, his advocacy of British greatness, expansionism and empire, and his antagonism towards Britain's chief enemies and rivals for colonial power, Spain and France. Marie Peters argues his statesmanship was based on a clear, consistent, and distinct appreciation of the value of the Empire.
The British parliamentary historian P. D. G. Thomas argued that Pitt's power was based not on his family connections but on the extraordinary parliamentary skills by which he dominated the House of Commons. He displayed a commanding manner, brilliant rhetoric, and sharp debating skills that cleverly utilised broad literary and historical knowledge. Scholars rank him highly among all British prime ministers.
Robert Walpole • Spencer Compton, 1st Earl of Wilmington • Thomas Pelham-Holles, 1st Duke of Newcastle • William Cavendish, 4th Duke of Devonshire • Thomas Pelham-Holles, 1st Duke of Newcastle • John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute • George Grenville • Charles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd Marquess of Rockingham • William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham • Augustus FitzRoy, 3rd Duke of Grafton • Frederick North, Lord North • Charles Watson-Wentworth • William Petty, 2nd Earl of Shelburne • William Cavendish-Bentinck, 3rd Duke of Portland • William Pitt the Younger • Henry Addington • William Pitt the Younger • William Grenville, 1st Baron Grenville • William Cavendish-Bentinck, 3rd Duke of Portland • Spencer Perceval • Robert Jenkinson, 2nd Earl of Liverpool • George Canning • F. J. Robinson, 1st Viscount Goderich • Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington • Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey • William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne • Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington • Robert Peel • William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne • Robert Peel • John Russell, 1st Earl Russell • Edward Smith-Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby • George Hamilton-Gordon, 4th Earl of Aberdeen • Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston • Edward Smith-Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby • Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston • John Russell, 1st Earl Russell • Edward Smith-Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby • Benjamin Disraeli • William Ewart Gladstone • Benjamin Disraeli • William Ewart Gladstone • Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury • William Ewart Gladstone • Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury • William Ewart Gladstone • Archibald Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery • Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury • Arthur Balfour • Henry Campbell-Bannerman • H. H. Asquith • David Lloyd George • Bonar Law • Stanley Baldwin • Ramsay MacDonald • Stanley Baldwin • Ramsay MacDonald • Stanley Baldwin • Neville Chamberlain • Winston Churchill • Clement Attlee • Winston Churchill • Anthony Eden • Harold Macmillan • Alec Douglas-Home • Harold Wilson • Edward Heath • Harold Wilson • James Callaghan • Margaret Thatcher • Henry Collingridge • Francis Urquhart • Tom Makepeace • Undisclosed Labour Leader
Robert Walpole • Spencer Compton, 1st Earl of Wilmington • Thomas Pelham-Holles, 1st Duke of Newcastle • William Cavendish, 4th Duke of Devonshire • Thomas Pelham-Holles, 1st Duke of Newcastle • John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute • George Grenville • Charles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd Marquess of Rockingham • William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham • Augustus FitzRoy, 3rd Duke of Grafton • Frederick North, Lord North • Charles Watson-Wentworth • William Petty, 2nd Earl of Shelburne • William Cavendish-Bentinck, 3rd Duke of Portland • William Pitt the Younger • Henry Addington • William Pitt the Younger • William Grenville, 1st Baron Grenville • William Cavendish-Bentinck, 3rd Duke of Portland • Spencer Perceval • Robert Jenkinson, 2nd Earl of Liverpool • George Canning • F. J. Robinson, 1st Viscount Goderich • Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington • Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey • William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne • Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington • Robert Peel • William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne • Robert Peel • John Russell, 1st Earl Russell • Edward Smith-Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby • George Hamilton-Gordon, 4th Earl of Aberdeen • Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston • Edward Smith-Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby • Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston • John Russell, 1st Earl Russell • Edward Smith-Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby • Benjamin Disraeli • William Ewart Gladstone • Benjamin Disraeli • William Ewart Gladstone • Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury • William Ewart Gladstone • Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury • William Ewart Gladstone • Archibald Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery • Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury • Arthur Balfour • Henry Campbell-Bannerman • H. H. Asquith • David Lloyd George • Bonar Law • Stanley Baldwin • Ramsay MacDonald • Stanley Baldwin • Ramsay MacDonald • Stanley Baldwin • Neville Chamberlain • Winston Churchill • Clement Attlee • Winston Churchill • Anthony Eden • Harold Macmillan • Alec Douglas-Home • Harold Wilson • Edward Heath • Harold Wilson • James Callaghan • Margaret Thatcher • John Major • Tony Blair • Gordon Brown • David Cameron • Theresa May • Boris Johnson • Liz Truss • Rishi Sunak
