Pitt, William

William (1759-1806), a British statesman. He is known in history as "The Younger Pitt." He was the son of the Earl of Chatham, the subject of the preceding sketch. He was educated at Pembroke Hall, Cambridge, and was noted for his knowledge of mathematics and classics. He entered Parliament within two years after his father's voice ceased to be heard there. In politics he was a Whig. He opposed Burke. At the age of twenty-four he was made prime minister. Like his father he was the leading statesman of England for many years. Among his public measures was the passage of the so-called India Bill, which placed the affairs of the East India Company under the management of a government board. The union of the Irish and the English Parliaments was brought about, no doubt by bribery, during his administration. He formed a coalition of the European powers to oppose the rising influence of Napoleon. He was a man of patriotism and eloquence, but a poor manager of finance. The measures by which he undertook to raise public revenues were not altogether successful. He left his own affairs in a tangled condition. At his death Parliament made a special appropriation of $200,000 to pay off his personal debts.