William Pitt (1783-1801, 1804-1806) - Prime Minister - Parliament

William was born in Kent in 1759 and from an early age had a keen interest in politics. He began as the MP for Appleby and his reputation and stature just grew with time. Following this he spent a number of years debating and fighting for parliamentary reform.

In 1783 the King invited Pitt to create his own government and at just twenty-four years of age, he became Britain’s youngest Prime Minister. He attacked the serious problem of smuggling by reducing duties on those goods being illegally imported into Britain. This had tremendous success and established Pitt as a shrewd politician.

Pitt had a growing paranoia about rising discontentment in Britain which had its roots in the French Revolution and he issued a proclamation against seditious writings. Over the years Britain’s economy deteriorated and Pitt introduced legislation after legislation with taxes on everything from horses to sugar. In 1801, George III disagreed with Pitt’s policy of Catholic Emancipation and once he’d approached Henry Addington to become Prime Minister, he resigned from office.

He accrued great debts over time and eventually when Addington resigned from office, Pitt took on the role of Prime Minister again until his death in 1806.

"Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom: it is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves"

"There is no principle of the laws of nations clearer than this, that, when in the cause of war any nation acquires new possessions, such nation has only temporary right to them, and they do not become property till the end of the war"

Pitt on the execution of Louis XVI of France:
"On every principle by which men of justice and honour are actuated, it is the foulest and most atrocious deed which the history of the world has yet had occasion to attest".