Stewart : Catalog of Relics. 423 



One china plate with the Pitt coat of arms, formerly the property of 

 William Pitt, Earl of Chatham, gold and carnelian seal and fob, and 

 cameo scarf ring, formerly the property of William Pitt, Earl of 

 Chatham. (See Plates LII and LIII.) 



Loaned by Miss Pitt-Taylor, London, England. 



William Pitt was born at Westminster on November 15, 1708. He 

 was educated at Eton and Oxford, but never took a degree, as he was 

 afflicted with gout, and upon medical advice gave up his studies and 

 traveled for a while. In the year 1731 he became a cornet in the 

 army, and in 1735 entered Parliament as the representative of Old 

 Sarum. Soon after entering Parliament he was dismissed from the 

 army because of the support he gave to Frederick, Prince of Wales, 

 in his course of opposition to George IL He was also very obnoxious 

 to Walpole on account of his satirical speeches. Almost from his first 

 appearance in Parliament his great oratorical abilities made him a 

 power, and he contributed much to the downfall of Walpole in 1742. 

 In the year 1756 the King, notwithstanding his personal dislike for 

 Pitt, had to call upon him to carry on the government. His popu- 

 larity with the people demanded this course. A new cabinet was 

 formed, of which the Duke of Devonshire was nominal Prime Minis- 

 ter, but Pitt was the real power. At once Pitt began to vigorously 

 carry on the war, but the feeble support he received from the King 

 forced him to resign in 1757. But again the popular approval forced 

 the King to immediately recall Pitt and give him full control of for- 

 eign and military affairs. His war policy was vigorous and full of 

 sagacity. The French armies were defeated everywhere, and Pitt 

 became practically absolute ruler of England and the populace 

 bestowed upon him the title of " the Great Commoner." 



With the accession of George III in 1760 Pitt was forced to take 

 Lord Bute into his cabinet and finally was obliged to resign in 1761. 

 As a small recompense for his great services to the government he was 

 granted, a pension of ^3,000 a year, and his wife was given the title 

 of Baroness Chatham. 



Pitt remained out of office until 1776, but still used his eloquence 

 to defeat what he considered the unjust measures of the government, 

 and opposed with vehemence the various acts to tax the American 

 Colonies. In July, 1776, Pitt formed a new ministry, but, as his 

 health was broken, he took for himself the office of Privy Seal and was 

 created Viscount Pitt and Earl of Chatham. His acceptance of a 



