William Pitt the Younger Facts & Worksheets

William Pitt the Younger, the British prime minister (1783–1801, 1804–06), was born on May 28, 1759, in Hayes, Kent, England, and died on January 23, 1806, in London. His influence in strengthening the office of the prime minister was considerable.

See the fact file below for more information about William Pitt the Younger, or you can download our 30-page William Pitt the Younger worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

EARLY YEARS

• William Pitt the Younger received his education at home due to health issues. He excelled academically at Pembroke Hall in Cambridge and entered politics in 1780, winning a seat in Appleby in Westmorland.
• In 1782, Pitt became chancellor of the Exchequer under Prime Minister Lord Shelburne but faced a political rivalry with Charles James Fox. 
• Fox’s unexpected alliance with Lord North led to the downfall of Shelburne’s ministry. 
• Despite an invitation from King George III to form a government, Pitt declined, anticipating a lack of majority in the House of Commons. 
• Instead, he raised the issue of parliamentary reform to discredit the new administration led by the Duke of Portland.
• Although Pitt’s resolutions on reform were lost, he gained support from reformers who turned to him as their leader.

PITT’S FIRST MINISTRY, 1783–1801

• In 1783, following the defeat of Fox’s East India Bill in the House of Lords, George III dismissed the coalition and asked Pitt to form a government. 
• Pitt faced opposition from Fox and his ally, Lord North, leading to a parliamentary showdown. Despite a defeat, Pitt refused to resign, and George III supported him, leading to a dissolution of Parliament and a subsequent victory for Pitt in the 1784 election.
• Pitt faced economic challenges, including a significant debt from the American Revolution. 
• He implemented measures to address the financial crisis, such as new taxes, changes in charges, and a sinking fund. 
• However, the onset of war in 1793 led to increased debt through new loans with higher interest rates.
• Pitt also addressed issues in India, introducing his East India Bill in 1784, establishing the Board of Control, and consolidating power in the governor-general. 
• Pitt’s foreign strategy had mixed results, forming alliances to limit French influence and resolving the Nootka Sound dispute with Spain. 
• However, his involvement in Eastern Europe faced challenges, and war with France became inevitable in 1793 due to French decrees and threats to British interests.
• The French Revolution reignited the parliamentary reform movement, but the government responded with harsh measures, including the suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act. 
• The revolution also fueled tensions in Ireland, leading to a 1798 insurrection. Pitt proposed Irish unity but faced resistance, resulting in his resignation in 1801.
• Pitt briefly supported a new cabinet but did not enter the administration until 1804. He criticized the government’s financial policies and steps against the threat of invasion, leading to Prime Minister Henry Addington’s resignation. 
• King George III asked Pitt to form a new ministry, excluding Fox, and Pitt emphasized the preference for a nonparty government.

PITT’S SECOND PREMIERSHIP 1804–1806

• Pitt’s second government was less successful than his first since the Addington faction and others opposed him. Despite Nelson’s victory at Trafalgar in October, which ended the threat of an invasion and guaranteed Britain’s naval superiority for the remainder of the war, the Third Coalition against Napoleon’s France—an alliance with Russia, Sweden, and Austria—collapsed after the battles of Ulm and Austerlitz in 1805, and the year ended in disaster. 
• Pitt’s health was deteriorating; it had never been good. On November 9, 1805, he gave his final address in public at the Guildhall in London. 
• By January 15, 1806, the King was considering his successor and some of his colleagues were ready to use force to force him to quit as the only way to save his life. 
• A few weeks later, he passed away, and on February 22, he was laid to rest in Westminster Abbey. In the Commons, a motion to provide him £40,000 to pay off his debts was approved unanimously. 
• His friends had previously (1801) gathered £12,000 to save him from humiliation. He was so preoccupied with public matters and careless with money that he had enabled careless subordinates and craftsmen to waste his substantial government pay.

PRIVATE LIFE AND CHARACTER

• Pitt was a powerful and articulate speaker in Parliament and Cabinet, but he had no social influence and generally lacked common sense. His withdrawal was always noticeable. He never wed. He wasn’t very popular. Government officials even voiced complaints about his lack of accessibility. 
• An observer observed that “nobody speaks of him; no addresses, no subscriptions, no stir of any kind anywhere” in 1801, the year of his resignation from government. 
• Long before his death, physical ailments exacerbated by his port addiction limited his working hours.
• Pitt had little experience. He never traveled to Scotland or Ireland and didn’t even know much about most of England. 
• He spent a few weeks in France once. He avoided literature, science, and the arts while receiving state patronage and never interacted with men of letters or innovative thinkers. 
• In the end, his optimism was only dented by the weight of his health and Napoleon’s significant triumphs in 1805. He had long been overconfident in his ability to succeed in every cause he championed. 
• Despite initially being associated with the legislative reform movement, he did not try to bring up the subject again after his 1785 bill failed. 
• He did not try to address the social issues brought about by the Industrial Revolution, and during his lengthy tenure in power, he did little to change the harsh game laws, the punitive laws, the management of prisons, or municipal governance.
• Even in that era of eminent oratory, he controlled the House of Commons due to his exceptional debating abilities. 
• He acted in Parliament with a blend of discernment, strength, and extraordinary talent that was seldom equaled or bettered.

HISTORICAL IMPORTANCE

• William Pitt’s constitutional significance has been misinterpreted, as he was not a typical modern prime minister. 
• He was appointed by the King, not elected by the nation, and his tenure depended on the monarch’s support. 
• Pitt faced a significant crisis in 1788–1789 when he lost the King’s support due to George III’s insanity.
• His dominance in the Cabinet was constrained by opposition from colleagues on central issues.
• While Pitt’s influence in the Cabinet has been overstated, his lengthy time in office (19 years) established the need for a prime minister to oversee and coordinate government departments and have the King’s confidence. 
• Pitt’s leadership did not create a new Tory Party; he represented the traditions of the Tory Party but lacked the ability to command a majority in the House of Commons. 
• Despite his efforts, Pitt couldn’t pass legislation on issues like outlawing the trade of enslaved people, legislative reform, or aiding the Catholic Church.

LEGACY

• Prime Minister William Pitt the Younger cemented the authority of his position. Despite occasional resistance from Cabinet members, he contributed to defining the Prime Minister’s function as the overarching administrator and coordinator of the many government agencies. 
• Conservatives hailed him as a great patriotic hero after his death.
• Restoring the country’s finances following the American War of Independence was one of Pitt’s achievements. 
• Pitt altered the tax code to increase revenue collection, which assisted in controlling the growing national debt.
• A few of Pitt’s domestic initiatives did not work out; he was unable to bring about emancipation, parliamentary reform, or the outright ban on slavery, but finally accomplished the year following his death with the Slave Trade Act of 1807. 
• The 1792 Slave Trade Bill was passed by the House of Commons but remained in the House of Lords for years after being severely altered by Pitt’s amendments. 
• The incomplete elimination of the slave trade is seen by biographer William Hague as Pitt’s worst failure. 
• He points out that by the time Pitt’s career ended, circumstances had been established, in part because of the protracted campaigning Pitt had supported alongside his buddy William Wilberforce that would have made a deft attempt to pass an abolition measure successful. 
• Hague continues by stating that Pitt was probably a “spent force” by the time favorable circumstances materialized. According to Hague, Pitt’s extended tenure as prime minister “tested the natural limits of how long it is possible to be at the top.” 
• From 1783 to 1792, Pitt faced each new challenge with brilliance. From 1793, he exhibited determination but occasionally faltered, and by 1804, he was worn down by the combination of a narrow majority and the ongoing war.

William Pitt the Younger Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about William Pitt the Younger across 30 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about William Pitt the Younger. William Pitt the Younger, the British prime minister (1783–1801, 1804–06), was born on May 28, 1759, in Hayes, Kent, England, and died on January 23, 1806, in London. His influence in strengthening the office of the prime minister was considerable.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

1. William Pitt the Younger Facts
2. Pitt’s Pinnacle
3. Trade Routes
4. Quote to Analyze
5. Best Option
6. Analysis Chart
7. Poster of Recognition
8. Policies to Know
9. Make a Stand
10. Pitt vs. Fox
11. Video to Understand

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was William Pitt the Younger?

William Pitt the Younger, born on May 28, 1759, was a British statesman who served as the Prime Minister of Great Britain from 1783 to 1801 and then again from 1804 until his death in 1806. He was the youngest person to ever hold the position of Prime Minister.

What were some key accomplishments during Pitt’s political career?

Pitt is known for several significant achievements, including his leadership during the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars. He implemented financial and administrative reforms, such as the Act of Union with Ireland in 1800, and worked to strengthen the British economy. Pitt was also instrumental in the abolition of the slave trade in 1807.

How did Pitt handle the challenges of the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars?

Pitt adopted a conservative and anti-revolutionary stance during the French Revolution. He supported measures to suppress revolutionary activities and maintain order. During the Napoleonic Wars, he played a key role in forming coalitions against Napoleon Bonaparte’s expansionist ambitions, with Britain being a leading force in the opposition.

What led to Pitt’s resignation in 1801?

Pitt resigned in 1801 due to disagreements over the issue of Catholic Emancipation. He proposed granting political rights to Catholics, but faced strong opposition from King George III and other members of the government. Pitt resigned rather than proceed against the King’s wishes.

How did Pitt’s second term as Prime Minister end?

Pitt returned to office in 1804 during a time of war against Napoleon. Unfortunately, the stresses of the war and political challenges took a toll on his health. Pitt died on January 23, 1806, at the age of 46. His death marked the end of an era in British politics, and he is remembered as one of the most influential and capable Prime Ministers in British history.

Link/cite this page

If you reference any of the content on this page on your own website, please use the code below to cite this page as the original source.

<a href="https://kidskonnect.com/social-studies/william-pitt-the-younger/">William Pitt the Younger Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com</a> - KidsKonnect, January 31, 2024

Link will appear as William Pitt the Younger Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, January 31, 2024