William Pitt the Elder Biography

Birth of William Pitt

Enters as a gentleman commoner at Trinity College, Oxford

A violent attack of gout compels Pitt to leave Oxford University without finishing his degree

From 1728 to 1730 Pitt attends Utrecht University in the Dutch Republic

Pitt's brother Thomas is Returned at the general election of 1734 for two separate seats, Okehampton and Old Sarum, and passes Old Sarum to William

Pitt the Elder is 1st elected MP

Pitt soon joins a faction of discontented Whigs known as the Patriots who form part of the opposition

Pitt delivers his maiden speech in the Commons on the congratulatory address to George II on the marriage of his son Frederick, Prince of Wales. Pitt pays his compliments

Pitt speaks in favour of the motion for an inquiry into the last ten years of Walpole's administration

Pitt expects a new Government to be formed by Pulteney and dominated by Tories and Patriot Whigs in which he could expect a junior position

Pitt's hopes for a place in the Government are thwarted and he remains in opposition. He is unable to make any gain from the downfall of Walpole, to which he had contributed

Walpole is forced to resign after poor election results and the disaster at Cartagena

Appointed Paymaster General

Appointed Privy Councilor

Appointed Vice Treasurer of Ireland

Returned by Aldborough

The Government wins a landslide election victory

Dismissed from office for opposing Newcastles foreign policy

Pitt is dismissed from office as Paymaster, having spoken during a debate against the new system of continental subsidies proposed by the Government of which he was a member

Appointed Secretary of State

Pitt is dismissed from office on account of his opposition to the continental policy and the circumstances surrounding the court-martial and execution of Admiral John Byng

Appointed Leader of the House of Commons

Appointed Secretary of State for the Southern Department

Clive defeats Siraj ud-Daulah, (the last independent Nawab of Bengal) at Plassey, securing India

Dismissed from office

Clive defeats Siraj ud-Daulah, (the last independent Nawab of Bengal) at Plassey, securing India

The Forbes Expedition captures Fort Duquesne and founds Pittsburgh giving the British control of the Ohio Country, the principal cause of the war

Pitt sends out further expeditions to capture Goree and Gambia

Pitt sends out further expeditions to capture Goree and Gambia

A second British attempt to capture Louisbourg succeeds

The Forbes Expedition captures Fort Duquesne and founds Pittsburgh giving the British control of the Ohio Country, the principal cause of the war

Pitt had been lobbied by an American merchant Thomas Cumming to launch an expedition against the French trading settlements in West Africa

Pitt sends out further expeditions to capture Goree and Gambia

Pitt orders the dispatch of the first British troops to the European continent under the Duke of Marlborough, who joins Brunswick's army

The Forbes Expedition captures Fort Duquesne and founds Pittsburgh giving the British control of the Ohio Country, the principal cause of the war

British forces capture the ill-defended fort of Saint-Louis in Senegal

British forces capture the ill-defended fort of Saint-Louis in Senegal

The British capture Guadeloupe

The British under General Wolfe capture Quebec

A French attempt to capture Madras is repulsed

Britain completes the conquest of Canada by capturing Montreal, which effectively brings the war to an end on mainland North America

Britain completes the conquest of Canada by capturing Montreal, which effectively brings the war to an end on mainland North America

Pitt's plan for an expedition to capture Belle Ile is put into force and it is captured after a siege

Pitt's plan for an expedition to capture Belle Ile is put into force and it is captured after a siege

Not appointed Prime Minister due to poor health

Created Earl of Chatham

Appointed Privy Seal

Resigns due to ill health

Buried in Westminster Abbey

Death of William Pitt