Quotes by William Pitt the Elder

• "I rejoice that America has resisted. Three millions of people, so dead to all the feelings of liberty, as voluntarily to submit to be slaves, would have been fit instruments to make slaves of the rest."

• "There are many things a parliament cannot do. It cannot make itself executive, nor dispose of offices which belong to the crown. It cannot take any man's property, even that of the meanest cottager, as in the case of enclosures, without his being heard."

Site sources

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Pitt,_1st_Earl_of_Chatham
http://www.historyhome.co.uk/pms/pitt-e.htm

The seven years war

William Pitt the Elder and his Life

William Pitt the Elder

Hello my dear friends,

My name is William Pitt the Elder and I was born on November15, 1708 in Westminster, England. At birth I was fairly wealthy and could afford great education. The source of my wealth came from profits made in India. Now at the point of time, Britain had already conquered the Spice Island and India. I was well educated at Eton and Oxford University. Without my dear family I would live among the streets like a mere peasant. During my stay at Oxford University, I caught a terrible disease called gout. It is a large red sore on the joint caused from inflammatory arthritis. I am forced to leave the University without earning my degree and travel abroad. I spent my time in the country of France, and found a magnificent tour called the Grand Tour. It allows students to travel around countries studying many things. I finally end up going to Ultrecht University and earn my college degree. After I served a commission in the army and received knowledge of the army tactics. My brother Thomas Pitt paid for my commission and Lord Cobham waived the fees because he was related to Thomas by marriage. I grew very close to Cobham and thought of him as a father. During my commission, I was stationed at Northampton which made me very frustrated. The Prime Minister Robert Walpole did not get England involved in the War of the Polish Succession. I knew the time was perfect to show my excellent military tactics, but Walpole avoided that war. While fighting in the War of the Austrian Succession; I realized that Britain’s army needs to be reformed.  My commission in the army was very short, so I decided to join Parliament as a member for the rotten borough of Old Sarum. The thought of Walpole as a prime minister makes me sick. He is not fit for the Job and should step down from that political office. Because of my radical ideas and strong criticisms against Walpole, I am dismissed from the government. Later when the seven years’ war breaks out, I am reappointed a seat in the government. I don’t want to sound Conceited, but I was actually the driving force of the Seven years war. Without out my strong military tactics and radical ideas, Britain would have never won the war. This extensive triumph over the French by using a naval strategy caused France to make peace in the Treaty of Paris. I received the title of Secretary of state from King George II. I was very successful in battles and was well know in Britain. Despite all my hard work efforts, King George III dismissed me for no apparent reason. I was replaced by a man named Lord Bute. Apparently I was substituted for the king’s favorite, which ended my rein of political influence. My life is filled with great triumph, but in the end I am replaced by a man who has the experience of a new born child.

involvement in the Spanish War

Involvement in the Spanish War

During the decline of the Spanish, British merchants were being mistreated by the Spanish. This outrage caused me to advocate policies against the Spanish. I criticized Walpole’s weakness to governing against Spain. During the Convention of El Pardo, I spoke against the Spanish to dispute the problem peacefully. The British were finally pressured into declaring war against the Spanish and began its success at Porto Bello. After that, war was slowed down by the ineffectiveness of the government. I complained that Walpole could not execute the war effectively. There was a failed attack upon the South American Port of Cartagena which ended up being a tragedy with thousands of British troops dead. The war with Spain was a draw and it switched gears to fight the French. I knew we had missed our golden opportunity to conquer Spain at its decline. I soon made strong relations with Spain so that they would not Allie with France. This ineffectiveness of the government showed everyone that Walpole was not fit to lead the country into war. He was later dismissed, gave me the opportunity to be the next Prime Minister.

Government Work

Government Work

Sir Robert Walpole was the prime minister that ruled in absence of the king. I clearly did not agree with these ideas of government. I tried denouncing him several times but my oral speech skills did not help make a stable base for my case. I finally was a part of the government when I first became paymaster-general in 1746. Realizing that the paymaster-general position was not progressing fast enough, I started to criticize the Duke of Newcastle. His government and war policy was useless and did not help the country. After Newcastle was dismissed, I created a government with George Grenvile and the Duke of Devonshire. In April, 1757, I was dismissed from the government by King George II.  After the break out of the seven years’ war I was once again recalled to an office in the government. As prime minister, I advocated ideas to defeat the French. Brining a fleet of British ships to block the French from escaping, caused us to be victorious. The former prime minister worked on domestic affairs during the seven years war. I was summoned once again to be in charge of another coalition government, but I had less success from before. The problems in America were very difficult to face and I was unable to govern in Britain. This deep depression caused me to resign from my office in October 1768.

William on Foreign affairs

After being forced to resign from my spot as secretary of state, I decided to get involved with the Peace of Paris. The British had defeated the French at Louisbourg and forced them from finally surrender. The French signed the Peace of Paris which gave Canada, and the lands near the Mississippi. When I saw these terms, I was infuriated by the lack of land and supply we were going to earn. I started to argue about how we muscled our way to the top, but received such a little amount. Even though I complained about the terms of the surrender the government would not listen. Why would France get to keep the West Indian islands, and Cuba? The efforts of our British nation would become nothing if it wasn’t for our strong navy. Many people supported my ideas because my proposals were reasonable. I Gave credit to the brave men that fought for Britain and stopped our French Rivals. Yet their efforts only got them a little bit of land and the French still kept more. That is why I am complaining about this outrageous Treaty. The bright side to the treaty was that we could send people to settler in the new conquered world.

The Seven years' War

The Seven years’ war

During the Seven years’ war Britain was at war with their rival France. Britain allied with Austria and fought in many series of wars. The war in India success was through the British navy’s constant persistence on taking India. The French lose India to the British, who were led by Robert Clive. I planned many strategies with Robert to defeat the French in India. The main conflict took place in North America. The war was also known as the French and Indian war. Frances successful establishments of alliances with the Natives gave them the upper hand. The thought hit me very quickly and I realized that by using strong naval techniques we could actually defeat the French. The main idea was to obliterate the French colonial empire to create a strong British colonial empire. So I sent out our best naval armada to defeat the French navy and this proved very successful. The French definitely had the upper hand on troops, but our lingering navy controlled the Oceans. Without any supplies to fund and support the Standing army in America, the French troops could no longer fight constantly. We knew France had to concede and waited for announcement of victory. France was forced to make the Treaty of Paris which gave Britain the land of Canada and the lands east of the Mississippi. The Spanish were also forced to give Spanish Florida. In return, The French gave their Louisianna territory to the Spanish.  After the results of this war, Britain became the world’s greatest colonial power. I want to take full credit for the successful victory over our rivals.