90-530: Shebbeare is a surname, and may refer to: John Shebbeare (1709–1788), British Tory political satirist Robert Shebbeare (1827–1860), English recipient of the Victoria Cross Edward Oswald Shebbeare (1884-1964), British mountaineer, naturalist and forester Tom Shebbeare (born 1952), British business executive [REDACTED] Surname list This page lists people with
180-593: A Tory Member of Parliament from 1705 to 1727. Both William's uncles Thomas and John were MPs, while his aunt Lucy married the leading Whig politician and soldier General James Stanhope . From 1717 to 1721, Stanhope served as effective First Minister in the Stanhope–Sunderland Ministry , and was a useful political contact for the Pitt family until the collapse of the South Sea Bubble ,
270-729: A chemist in the city. In 1740 he published A new Analysis of the Bristol Waters; together with the Cause of Diabetes and Hectic, and their Cure, as it results from those Waters , which was reissued in 1760. The Shebbeare family had left Guinea Street by 1751. In 1752 he went to Paris, where he claimed to have obtained a medical degree, and to have been elected member of the Academy of Sciences. But he found his pen more remunerative than his practice. Settling in London, he began his career as
360-533: A landslide , further strengthening its majority in parliament. When parliament met, however, he made no secret of his feelings. Ignoring Robinson, Pitt made frequent and vehement attacks on Newcastle, although still continuing to serve as Paymaster under him. From 1754, Britain was increasingly drawn into conflict with France during this period, despite Newcastle's wish to maintain the peace. The countries clashed in North America, where each had laid claim to
450-594: A seat in Parliament . He made further land purchases and became one of the dominant political figures in the West Country , controlling seats such as the rotten borough of Old Sarum . William's mother was Harriet Villiers , the daughter of Edward Villiers-FitzGerald and the Irish heiress Katherine FitzGerald . William's father was Robert Pitt (1680–1727), the eldest son of Governor Pitt. He served as
540-674: A second British attempt to capture Louisbourg succeeded. However, Pitt's pleasure over this was tempered by the subsequent news of a significant British defeat at the Battle of Carillon . Toward the end of the year the Forbes Expedition seized the site of Fort Duquesne and began constructing the British-controlled Fort Pitt (which later grew into the city of Pittsburgh). This gave the British control of
630-502: A He-bear and a She-bear. In 1776 Wilkes spoke of them as the "two famous doctors" who were "the state hirelings called pensioners" and whose names disgraced the civil list." William Mason the poet, writing under the pseudonym "Malcolm Macgregor," in 1777 addressed a scathing Epistle to Shebbeare, as: The same abusive, base, abandoned thing When pilloried or pensioned by a king Nor did Shebbeare's own political friends altogether spare him. His sudden transition from pillory to pension
720-623: A brief interlude in 1757, its informal leader from 1756 to 1761, during the Seven Years' War (including the French and Indian War in the American colonies ). He again led the ministry, holding the official title of Lord Privy Seal , between 1766 and 1768. Much of his power came from his brilliant oratory. He was out of power for most of his career and became well-known for his attacks on the government, such as those on Walpole 's corruption in
810-539: A commission of 1 ⁄ 2 % on all foreign subsidies. Although there was no strong public sentiment against the practice, Pitt completely refused to profit by it. All advances were lodged by him in the Bank of England until required, and all subsidies were paid over without deduction, even though it was pressed upon him, so that he did not draw a shilling from his office beyond the salary legally attaching to it. Pitt ostentatiously made this clear to everyone, although he
900-471: A consolatory Epistle to Dr. Shebbeare . While in prison Shebbeare received subscriptions for a history of England, and actually composed one volume, which was not published. When attacked on the subject in a letter in the Public Advertiser of 10 Aug. 1774 he excused himself chiefly on the ground of debts incurred in consequence of a lawsuit against Francis Gwyn , who had been concerned with him in
990-560: A diamond of extraordinary size and having sold it to the Duke of Orléans for approximately £135,000. This transaction, as well as other trading deals in India , established the Pitt family fortune. After returning home the governor was able to raise his family to a position of wealth and political influence: in 1691 he purchased the property of Boconnoc in Cornwall , which gave him control of
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#17327982776901080-455: A disaster that engulfed the government. William Pitt was born at Golden Square , Westminster , on 15 November 1708. His older brother Thomas Pitt had been born in 1704 and they had five sisters: Harriet, Catherine, Ann, Elizabeth, and Mary. From 1719, William was educated at Eton College along with his brother. William disliked Eton, later claiming that "a public school might suit a boy of turbulent disposition but would not do where there
1170-463: A faction of discontented Whigs known as the Patriots who formed part of the opposition. The group commonly met at Stowe House , the country estate of Lord Cobham , who was a leader of the group. Cobham had originally been a supporter of the government under Sir Robert Walpole, but a dispute over the controversial Excise Bill of 1733 had seen them join the opposition. Pitt swiftly became one of
1260-536: A failed attack was made on the South American port of Cartagena that left thousands of British troops dead, more than half from disease, and cost many ships. The decision to attack during the rainy season was held as further evidence of the government's incompetence. After this, the colonial war against Spain was almost entirely abandoned as British resources were switched toward fighting France in Europe as
1350-407: A memorial signed by several members of parliament was presented to George Grenville in his favour, and Shebbeare was granted a pension of £200 a year. The king, in reply to Sir John Philips , who made the application, is said to have spoken of Shebbeare "in very favourable terms." Almon's statement that a pension of £400 had been previously granted by Bute seems doubtful. Henceforth Shebbeare became
1440-550: A number of issues to become more acceptable to George, most notably the heated issue of Hanoverian subsidies. To force the matter, the Pelham brothers had to resign on the question of whether he should be admitted or not, and it was only after all other arrangements had proved impracticable, that they were reinstated with Pitt appointed as Vice-Treasurer of Ireland in February 1746. George continued to resent him however. In May of
1530-416: A panegyric on George III and his ministers. In style it is a colourable imitation of Bolingbroke. On 3 Aug. 1764 Walpole sent Lord Hertford a pamphlet written by Shebbeare under Grenville's direction, adding the remark, "We do not ransack Newgate and the pillory for writers." He speaks of him as engaged with Carteret Webbe , solicitor to the treasury, in writing against Pratt , the lord chief justice, in
1620-523: A paper called The Moderator . In 1766 Shebbeare offered to John Beard , the manager of Covent Garden , a play he had written in early life, and its non-production led to the publication of the correspondence between them (1767). In 1768 he wrote for three months the reviews of books in the Political Register . In 1770 Shebbeare published an Eighth Letter to the People of England . He defended
1710-417: A political writer in 1754, with The Marriage Act , a novel, dedicated to John Russell, 4th Duke of Bedford , one of the chief opponents of Lord Hardwicke 's reform. The author was imprisoned for his reflections on the legislature, but his book was reissued in 1755 as Matrimony , and reappeared in 1766. Shebbeare followed up his success in 1756 by an attack on the Duke of Newcastle in the form of Letters on
1800-453: A publication now in the public domain : Norgate, Gerald le Grys (1897). " Shebbeare, John ". In Lee, Sidney (ed.). Dictionary of National Biography . Vol. 52. London: Smith, Elder & Co. (Note: references marked "via DNB" are in the original DNB article but have not been independently verified.) William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham , (15 November 1708 – 11 May 1778)
1890-709: A steady advocate of the measures of the court, and even assailed his old favourite, Pitt. His most elaborately written work was The History of the Excellence and Decline of the Institutions, Religion, Laws, Manners, and Genius of the Sumatrans, and of the Restoration thereof in the reign of Amurath the Third , 2 vols. 1763. It is a skilful exposure of the weak points in whig policy and administration, followed by
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#17327982776901980-473: Is different from Wikidata All set index articles John Shebbeare John Shebbeare (1709–1788) was a British Tory political satirist . He was the eldest son of an attorney and corn- factor of Bideford , Devonshire. A hundred and a village in Devon , where the family had owned land, bear their name. Shebbeare was educated at the free school, Exeter , under Zachariah Mudge , and there, it
2070-476: Is said, "gave evidence of his future eminence in misanthropy and literature." In his sixteenth year he was apprenticed to a surgeon, and afterwards set up for himself. Having, however, lampooned both his master and the members of the Exeter corporation, he in 1736 removed to Bristol, where in 1750 he was listed in land tax records as being at 10, Guinea Street, a house which is extant. He entered into partnership with
2160-485: The Dowager Duchess of Marlborough died leaving him a legacy of £10,000 as an "acknowledgment of the noble defence he had made for the support of the laws of England and to prevent the ruin of his country". The inheritance was probably as much a mark of her dislike of Walpole as of her admiration of Pitt. Reluctantly the king finally agreed to give Pitt a place in the government. Pitt had changed his stance on
2250-572: The Duke of Cumberland 's Army of Observation was retreating across Hanover following the Battle of Hastenback . In October Cumberland was forced to conclude the Convention of Klosterzeven , which would take Hanover out of the war. The French Invasion of Hanover posed a threat to Britain's ally Prussia, which was now vulnerable to attack from the west by the French as well as facing attack from Austria, Russia , Saxony and Sweden. Although it
2340-512: The Dutch Republic , gaining a knowledge of Hugo Grotius and other writers on international law and diplomacy. It is not known how long Pitt studied at Utrecht; but by 1730 he had returned to his brother's estate at Boconnoc. He had recovered from the violent attack of gout, but the disease proved intractable, and he continued to be subject to attacks of growing intensity at frequent intervals until his death. On Pitt's return home it
2430-513: The Letter nearly approached high treason. On 28 Nov. Shebbeare was sentenced to a £5 fine and three years' imprisonment in King's Bench Prison , as well as having to pay a bond of £500 and find two £250 sureties for good behaviour for seven years on his release. He was also to stand in the pillory at Charing Cross on 5 December. Owing to the friendship of Arthur Beardmore , the under-sheriff, he
2520-586: The Ohio Country , which had been the principal cause of the war. In Europe, Brunswick's forces enjoyed a mixed year. Brunswick had crossed the Rhine , but faced with being cut off he had retreated and blocked any potential French move toward Hanover with his victory at the Battle of Krefeld . The year ended with something approaching a stalemate in Germany. Pitt had continued his naval descents during 1758, but
2610-506: The Ohio Country . A British expedition under General Braddock had been despatched and defeated in summer 1755 that caused a ratcheting up of tensions. Eager to prevent the war spreading to Europe, Newcastle now tried to conclude a series of treaties that would secure Britain allies through the payment of subsidies, which he hoped would discourage France from attacking Britain. Similar subsidies had been an issue of past disagreement, and they were widely attacked by Patriot Whigs and Tories. As
2700-696: The Raid on Rochefort , took place in September but was not a success. The centrepiece of the campaign in North America, an expedition to capture Louisbourg , was aborted due to the presence of a large French fleet and a gale that scattered the British fleet. In 1758 Pitt began to put into practice a new strategy to win the Seven Years' War, which would involve tying down large numbers of French troops and resources in Germany, while Britain used its naval supremacy to launch expeditions to capture French forces around
2790-601: The War of the Austrian Succession had broken out. The Spanish had repelled a major invasion intended to conquer Central America and succeeded in maintaining their trans-Atlantic convoys while causing much disruption to British shipping and twice broke a British blockade to land troops in Italy, but the war with Spain was treated as a draw. Many of the underlying issues remained unresolved by the later peace treaties leaving
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2880-645: The ongoing European war , which he believed was in violation of the Treaty of Vienna and the terms of the Anglo-Austrian Alliance . He became such a troublesome critic of the government that Walpole moved to punish him by arranging his dismissal from the army in 1736, along with several of his friends and political allies. This provoked a wave of hostility to Walpole because many saw such an act as unconstitutional —that members of Parliament were being dismissed for their freedom of speech in attacking
2970-414: The surname Shebbeare . If an internal link intending to refer to a specific person led you to this page, you may wish to change that link by adding the person's given name (s) to the link. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Shebbeare&oldid=974689989 " Category : Surnames Hidden categories: Articles with short description Short description
3060-535: The 1730s, Hanoverian subsidies in the 1740s, peace with France in the 1760s , and the policy toward the American colonies during the 1770s. Pitt is best known as the wartime political leader of Britain during the Seven Years' War, especially for his single-minded devotion to victory over France, a victory that ultimately solidified Britain's dominance over world affairs. He is also known for his popular appeal, his opposition to corruption in government, his support for
3150-502: The American policy of George III against Richard Price and Edmund Burke in the Public Advertiser and elsewhere. The former he "abused daily in the papers," In 1774, in reflecting on some speeches lately delivered by Thomas Townshend (afterwards Lord Sydney) and Councillor Lee , he took occasion to cast aspersions on the character and reputation of William III , Algernon Sidney , and other Whig heroes, as viewed in
3240-577: The American position in the run-up to the American Revolutionary War , his advocacy of British greatness, expansionism and empire, and his antagonism toward Britain's chief enemies and rivals for colonial power, Spain and France . Marie Peters argues his statesmanship was based on a clear, consistent and distinct appreciation of the value of the Empire. The British parliamentary historian P. D. G. Thomas argued that Pitt's power
3330-467: The Bedchamber as a reward. In this new position Pitt's hostility to the government did not in any degree relax, and his oratorical gifts were substantial. During the 1730s Britain's relationship with Spain had slowly declined. Repeated cases of reported Spanish mistreatment of British merchants, whom they accused of smuggling, caused public outrage, particularly the incident of Jenkins' Ear . Pitt
3420-437: The British government was pushed toward declaring war with Spain in 1739. Britain began with a success at Porto Bello . However the war effort soon stalled, and Pitt alleged that the government was not prosecuting the war effectively—demonstrated by the fact that the British waited two years before taking further offensive action fearing that further British victories would provoke the French into declaring war. When they did so,
3510-619: The English Nation, by Batista Angeloni, a Jesuit resident in London , of which he professed to be the translator only. This political satire, modelled on Bolingbroke 's writings against Robert Walpole , alone entitled Shebbeare (in the opinion of Boswell ) to a respectable name in literature. Meanwhile, he attacked the ministry directly in the Monitor and the Con-test , as well as in a series of outspoken pamphlets entitled Letters to
3600-604: The French trading settlements in West Africa . In April 1758 British forces captured the ill-defended fort of Saint-Louis in Senegal . The mission was so lucrative that Pitt sent out further expeditions to capture Gorée and Gambia later in the year. He also drew up plans to attack French islands in the Caribbean the following year at the suggestion of a Jamaican sugar planter William Beckford . In North America,
3690-400: The People of England , having, it was said, determined to write himself into a post or into the pillory. At the close of 1757, after Pitt 's dismissal, Shebbeare issued his sixth letter, "in which is shown that the present grandeur of France and calamities of this nation are owing to the influence of Hanover on the councils of England." On 12 January 1758 a general warrant was issued against
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3780-537: The Southern Department , and Leader of the House of Commons under the premiership of the Duke of Devonshire . Upon entering this coalition, Pitt said to Devonshire: "My Lord, I am sure I can save this country, and no one else can". He had made it a condition of his joining any administration that Newcastle should be excluded from it, which proved fatal to the lengthened existence of his government. With
3870-557: The Spanish Treaty and the continental subsidies, which he had violently denounced when in opposition was criticised by his enemies as an example of his political opportunism . Between 1746 and 1748, Pitt worked closely with Newcastle in formulating British military and diplomatic strategy. He shared with Newcastle a belief that Britain should continue to fight until it could receive generous peace terms, in contrast to some such as Henry Pelham who favoured an immediate peace. Pitt
3960-433: The author, printer, and publisher. On 23 January all copies of a seventh Letter were seized and suppressed. On 17 June Shebbeare was tried for libel on an information laid against him by the attorney-general, Pratt , who on this occasion admitted the right of the jury to judge of the law . During the trial, as Walpole laments, Mansfield laid it down that satires on dead kings were punishable. In summing up he declared that
4050-530: The capital and all the chief towns voting him addresses and the freedom of their corporations (e.g., London presented him with the first ever honorary Freedom of the City awarded in history). Horace Walpole recorded the freedoms of various cities awarded to Pitt: ... for some weeks it rained gold boxes: Chester , Worcester , Norwich , Bedford , Salisbury , Yarmouth , Tewkesbury , Newcastle-on-Tyne , Stirling , and other populous and chief towns following
4140-735: The class of ordinary writers." Besides the works mentioned, he published: Also the following medical works: The full list given in the European Magazine numbers thirty-five pieces. William Wadd ( Nugæ Chirurgicæ ) wrongly attributes to Shebbeare Charles Johnstone s Chrysal, or the Adventures of a Guinea . The Memoirs of a Lady of Quality , written by the Viscountess Vane and introduced into Peregrine Pickle by Smollett, has also been erroneously assigned to him. [REDACTED] This article incorporates text from
4230-492: The consequence of a war in America; whoever gains, it must prove fatal to her ... is this any longer a nation? Is this any longer an English Parliament, if with more ships in your harbours than in all the navies of Europe; with above two millions of people in your American colonies, you will bear to hear of the expediency of receiving from Spain an insecure, unsatisfactory, dishonourable Convention? Owing to public pressure,
4320-403: The disaster at Cartagena, Walpole finally was forced to succumb to the long-continued attacks of opposition, he resigned and took a peerage . Pitt now expected a new government to be formed led by Pulteney and dominated by Tories and Patriot Whigs in which he could expect a junior position. instead, Walpole was succeeded as prime minister by Lord Wilmington , although the real power in
4410-458: The downfall of Walpole, to which he had personally contributed a great deal. After the dismissal of Carteret, the administration formed by the Pelhams in 1744 included many of Pitt's former Patriot allies, but Pitt was not granted a position because of continued ill-feeling by the king and leading Whigs about his views on Hanover. In 1744, Pitt received a large boost to his personal fortune when
4500-440: The example. Exeter , with singular affection, sent boxes of oak. After some weeks' negotiation, in the course of which the firmness and moderation of " The Great Commoner ", as he had come to be called, contrasted favourably with the characteristic tortuosities of the crafty peer , matters were settled on such a basis that, while Newcastle was the nominal, Pitt was the virtual head of the government. On his acceptance of office, he
4590-601: The faction's most prominent members. Pitt's maiden speech in the Commons was delivered in April 1736, in the debate on the congratulatory address to George II on the marriage of his son Frederick, Prince of Wales . He used the occasion to pay compliments, and there was nothing striking in the speech as reported, but it helped to gain him the attention of the House when he later took part on debates on more partisan subjects. In particular, he attacked Britain's non-intervention in
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#17327982776904680-480: The first had enjoyed only limited success and the second ended with near disaster at the Battle of St Cast and no further descents were planned. Instead the troops and ships would be used as part of the coming expedition to the French West Indies . The scheme of amphibious raids was the only one of Pitt's policies during the war that was broadly a failure, although it did help briefly relieve pressure on
4770-457: The globe. Following the capture of Emden he ordered the dispatch of the first British troops to the European continent under the Duke of Marlborough , who joined Brunswick 's army. This was a dramatic reversal of his previous position, as he had recently been strongly opposed to any such commitment. Pitt had been lobbied by an American merchant Thomas Cumming to launch an expedition against
4860-484: The government came under increasing attack, Newcastle replaced Robinson with Fox who it was acknowledged carried more political weight and again slighted Pitt. Finally in November 1755, Pitt was dismissed from office as paymaster, having spoken during a debate at great length against the new system of continental subsidies proposed by the government of which he was still a member. Fox retained his own place, and although
4950-438: The government, something protected by Parliamentary privilege . None of the men had their commissions reinstated, however, and the incident brought an end to Pitt's military career. The loss of Pitt's commission was soon compensated. The heir to the throne, Frederick, Prince of Wales , was involved in a long-running dispute with his father, George II, and was the patron of the opposition . He appointed Pitt one of his Grooms of
5040-638: The house of Catherine Reid , a Scottish portrait-painter, and has recorded a specimen of his conversation in her Early Diary . It was marked by extraordinary coarseness, and consisted chiefly of abuse of women and Scotsmen, whom he declared to be "the two greatest evils upon earth." The last production by Shebbeare was The Pole Cat, or C. Jennings, the Renegade Schoolmaster ... Detected , 1788, 8vo. Shebbeare died on 1 Aug. 1788 in Eaton Street, Pimlico . He married young and unhappily. He
5130-767: The island of Menorca ill-defended so that the French would seize it, and Newcastle could use its loss to prove that Britain was not able to fight a war against France and sue for peace. When in June 1756 Menorca fell after a failed attempt by Admiral Byng to relieve it, Pitt's allegations fuelled the public anger against Newcastle, leading him to be attacked by a mob in Greenwich . The loss of Menorca shattered public faith in Newcastle, and forced him to step down as prime minister in November 1756. In December 1756, Pitt, who now sat for Okehampton , became Secretary of State for
5220-416: The king unfriendly, and Newcastle, whose influence was still dominant in the Commons, estranged, it was impossible to carry on a government by the aid of public opinion alone, however emphatically that might have declared itself on his side. The historian Basil Williams has claimed that this is the first time in British history when a "man was called to supreme power by the voice of the people" rather than by
5310-400: The king's appointment or, as the choice of Parliament. Pitt drew up his plans for the campaigning season of 1757 in which he hoped to reverse Britain's string of defeats during the war's opening years. In April 1757 Pitt was 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 . He
5400-461: The late Decoration of St. Margaret's, Westminster . Some contemporary documents spell his surname "Shebear" or "Shebbear". Shebbeare's writings generally are vigorous and well informed, and in scurrility go little, if at all, beyond those of the chief polemical writers of the day. Walpole admitted that his pen was "not without force," and Boswell, who was introduced to him by General James Oglethorpe , thought "his knowledge and abilities much above
5490-415: The light of the recently published Memorials of Sir John Dalrymple . An answer appeared as an appendix to a Letter to Dr. Johnson on his late Political Publications , 1775, by a "Doctor of Laws" ( Hugh Baillie ). Despite a protest made by Fox in the House of Commons on 16 Feb. 1774, the names of Johnson and Shebbeare were usually coupled in whig pasquinades . It was said that the king had pensioned both
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#17327982776905580-399: The new government was divided among Lord Carteret and the Pelham brothers ( Henry and Thomas, Duke of Newcastle ). Walpole had carefully orchestrated this new government as a continuance of his own, and continued to advise it up to his death in 1745. Pitt's hopes for a place in the government were thwarted and he remained in opposition. He was therefore unable to make any personal gain from
5670-573: The passage relating to Shebbeare's prosecution in 1758 is curiously laudatory. William Hogarth , also one of George III's pensioners, introduced Shebbeare as one of the figures in The Polling , the third work of his four-part Humours of an Election series (he is seen, a shackle on his leg, whispering into the ear of a mad man; in the later print version, he has a copy of the Sixth Letter in his pocket. ). Frances Burney met him in 1774 at
5760-415: The past few months Britain had been virtually leaderless, although Devonshire had remained formally prime minister, but now Pitt and Newcastle were ready to offer stronger direction to the country's strategy. By summer 1757 the British war effort over the previous three years had broadly been a failure. Britain's attempts to take the offensive in North America had ended in disaster, Menorca had been lost, and
5850-534: The post. It was widely believed that Newcastle had done this because he feared the ambitions of both Pitt and Fox, and believed he would find it easier to dominate the inexperienced Robinson. Despite his disappointment there was no immediate open breach. Pitt continued at his post; and at the general election that took place during the year, he even accepted a nomination for the Duke's pocket borough of Aldborough . He had sat for Seaford since 1747. The government won
5940-614: The potential for future conflicts to occur. Pitt considered the war a missed opportunity to take advantage of a power in decline, although later he became an advocate of warmer relations with the Spanish in an effort to prevent them forming an alliance with France. Walpole and Newcastle were now giving the war in Europe a much higher priority than the colonial conflict with Spain in the Americas. Prussia and Austria went to war in 1740, with many other European states soon joining in. There
6030-492: The prime minister, out of Treasury funds in an attempt to secure the support of Pitt's brother Thomas in Parliament. Alternatively, the fee may have been waived by the commanding officer of the regiment, Lord Cobham , who was related to the Pitt brothers by marriage. Pitt grew close to Cobham, whom he regarded as almost a surrogate father. He was stationed for much of his service in Northampton , on peacetime duties. Pitt
6120-452: The public, but earned him the lifelong hatred of the King, who was emotionally committed to Hanover, where he had spent the first thirty years of his life. In response to Pitt's attacks, the British government decided not to pay a direct subsidy to Hanover, but instead to pass the money indirectly through Austria—a move that was considered more politically acceptable. A sizeable Anglo-German army
6210-664: The publication of an edition of Clarendon 's History of the Reign of Charles II . The book, for which Shebbeare wrote a strong tory introduction, was suppressed by an injunction in chancery at the instance of the Duchess of Queensberry , and, though Shebbeare recovered expenses from Gwyn, half the sum went in costs. Notwithstanding his position, he refused to avail himself of the Insolvent Act . On his release he advocated peace with France, and attacked John Wilkes . On 29 Feb. 1764
6300-542: The same year Pitt was promoted to the more important and lucrative office of paymaster-general , which gave him a place in the Privy Council , although not in the cabinet . There he had an opportunity of displaying his public spirit and integrity in a way that deeply impressed both the king and the country. It had been the usual practise of previous paymasters to appropriate to themselves the interest of all money lying in their hands by way of advance, and also to accept
6390-459: The two men continued to be of the same party, and afterward served again in the same government, there was henceforward a rivalry between them, which makes the celebrated opposition of their sons, William Pitt the Younger and Charles James Fox , seem like an inherited quarrel. Pitt's relationship with the Duke slumped further in early 1756 when he alleged that Newcastle was deliberately leaving
6480-527: Was a British Whig statesman who served as Prime Minister of Great Britain from 1766 to 1768. Historians call him " Chatham " or " Pitt the Elder " to distinguish him from his son William Pitt the Younger , who also served as prime minister. Pitt was also known as " the Great Commoner " because of his long-standing refusal to accept a title until 1766. Pitt was a member of the British cabinet and with
6570-476: Was a fear that France would launch an invasion of Hanover , which was linked to Britain through the crown of George II . To avert this, Walpole and Newcastle decided to pay a large subsidy to both Austria and Hanover, in order for them to raise troops and defend themselves. Pitt then launched an attack on such subsidies, playing to widespread anti-Hanoverian feelings in Britain. This boosted his popularity with
6660-450: Was a leading advocate of a more hard-line policy against Spain and he often castigated Walpole's government for its weakness in dealing with Madrid . Pitt spoke out against the Convention of El Pardo that aimed to settle the dispute peacefully. In the speech against the convention in the House of Commons on 8 March 1739 Pitt said: When trade is at stake, it is your last entrenchment; you must defend it, or perish ... Sir, Spain knows
6750-460: Was allowed to stand upright between the upper and lower boards of the pillory, while an Irish chairman held an umbrella over his head. At the end of an hour he retired amidst the cheers of the crowd, who had been invited by printed bills to come and see 'the British champion.' Beardmore was afterwards punished for his conduct. An anonymous squib appeared under the title Memoirs of the Pillory; being
6840-494: Was an extensive reader, if not a minutely accurate classical scholar. Virgil was his favourite author. William diligently cultivated the faculty of expression by the practice of translation and re-translation. In these years he became a close friend of George Lyttelton , who would later become a leading politician. In 1728, a violent attack of gout compelled him to leave Oxford without finishing his degree. He then chose to travel abroad, from 1728 attending Utrecht University in
6930-399: Was any gentleness". It was at school that Pitt began to suffer from gout . Governor Pitt died in 1726, and the family estate at Boconnoc passed to William's father. When he died the following year, Boconnoc was inherited by William's elder brother, Thomas Pitt of Boconnoc . In January 1727, William was entered as a gentleman commoner at Trinity College, Oxford . There is evidence that he
7020-514: Was based not on his family connections, but on the extraordinary parliamentary skills by which he dominated the House of Commons . He displayed a commanding manner, brilliant rhetoric and sharp debating skills that cleverly used his broad literary and historical knowledge. Scholars rank him highly among all British prime ministers. Pitt was the grandson of Thomas Pitt (1653–1726), the governor of Madras , known as "Diamond" Pitt for having discovered
7110-417: Was chosen member for Bath . A coalition with Newcastle was formed in June 1757, and held power until October 1761. It brought together several various factions and was built around the partnership between Pitt and Newcastle, which a few months earlier had seemed impossible. The two men used Lord Chesterfield as an intermediary and had managed to agree a division of powers that was acceptable to both. For
7200-414: Was destined to be relatively short. His elder brother Thomas was returned at the general election of 1734 for two separate seats, Okehampton and Old Sarum , and chose to sit for Okehampton, passing the vacant seat to William who, accordingly, in February 1735, entered parliament as member for Old Sarum. He became one of a large number of serving army officers in the House of Commons. Pitt soon joined
7290-418: Was formed that George II led to victory at the Battle of Dettingen in 1743, reducing the immediate threat to Hanover. Many of Pitt's attacks on the government were directed personally at Walpole, who had now been prime minister for twenty years. He spoke in favour of the motion in 1742 for an inquiry into the last ten years of Walpole's administration. In February 1742, following poor election results and
7380-579: Was glanced at in The Expedition of Humphry Clinker , and he is the "Ferret" of Tobias Smollett 's Adventures of Sir Launcelot Greaves . Shebbeare seems to have shared Johnson's dislike to Scotsmen. He criticised adversely Smollet's History , and assailed the "Scotch gentlemen criticks" of the Critical Review , then conducted by Smollett. In the revised edition of the History , however,
7470-535: Was in fact following what Henry Pelham had done when he had held the post between 1730 and 1743. This helped to establish Pitt's reputation with the British people for honesty and placing the interests of the nation before his own. The administration formed in 1746 lasted without major changes until 1754. It would appear from his published correspondence that Pitt had a greater influence in shaping its policy than his comparatively subordinate position would in itself have entitled him to. His support for measures, such as
7560-567: Was late in the campaigning season when he had come to power, Pitt set about trying to initiate a more assertive strategy. He conspired with a number of figures to persuade the Hanoverians to revoke the Klosterzevern Convention and re-enter the war on Britain's side, which they did in late 1757. He also put into practice a scheme of Naval Descents that would make amphibious landings on the French coast. The first of these,
7650-402: Was necessary for him, as the younger son, to choose a profession and he opted for a career in the army. He obtained a cornet 's commission in the dragoons with the King's Own Regiment of Horse (later 1st King's Dragoon Guards ). George II never forgot the jibes of "the terrible cornet of horse". It was reported that the £1,000 cost of the commission had been supplied by Robert Walpole ,
7740-613: Was particularly frustrated that he had not been tested in battle since Britain had not entered the War of the Polish Succession that began in 1733 owing to Walpole's isolationist policies. Pitt was granted extended leave in 1733 and he toured France and Switzerland. He briefly visited Paris, but spent most of his time in the French provinces, spending the winter in Lunéville in the Duchy of Lorraine . Pitt's military career
7830-638: Was quoted by Burney as saying: I know but too well what it is to be married. I think I have been yoked one and forty years and I have wished my wife underground any time since. His wife, Susanna, also from Bideford, died on 25 November 1779. They had three children. One, Elizabeth, was baptised 6 April 1737. His son John, baptised 4 September 1734, matriculated at St Mary Hall, Oxford , on 28 October 1758, and graduated B.C.L. in 1765. After having been incumbent of Gaston, Norfolk, John died rector of East Horndon , Essex, on 7 February 1794. He wrote The Ornaments of Churches considered, with particular view to
7920-545: Was saddened when his friend and brother-in-law Thomas Grenville was killed at the naval First Battle of Cape Finisterre in 1747, however, this victory helped secure British supremacy of the sea that gave the British a stronger negotiating position when it came to the peace talks that ended the war. At the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle in 1748 British colonial conquests were exchanged for a French withdrawal from Brussels . Many saw this as merely an armistice and awaited an imminent new war. In 1754, Henry Pelham died suddenly and
8010-409: Was succeeded as prime minister by his brother, the Duke of Newcastle. As Newcastle sat in the House of Lords , he required a leading politician to represent the government in the House of Commons. Pitt and Henry Fox were considered the two favourites for the position, but Newcastle instead rejected them both and turned to the less well-known figure of Sir Thomas Robinson , a career diplomat , to fill
8100-401: Was succeeded by the Duke of Devonshire who formed the 1757 Caretaker Ministry . But the power that was insufficient to keep him in office was strong enough to make any arrangement that excluded him, impracticable. The public voice spoke in a way that was not to be mistaken. Probably no English minister ever received in so short a time so many proofs of the confidence and admiration of the public,
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