Pitt, William The Elder

Chatham's colonial policy: A study in the fiscal and economic implications of the colonial policy of the elder Pitt (Pespectives in European history ; no. 19)

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Chatham's colonial policy: A study in the fiscal and economic implications of the colonial policy of the elder Pitt (Pespectives in European history ; no. 19)
Kate Hotblack
Manufacturer: Porcupine Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Central Governments | Administrative Law | Law | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0879916265

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For scholars only ...

Pitt the Elder (British Lives)
Jeremy Black
Manufacturer: Cambridge University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Irish | Ethnic & National | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

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Book Description

This book offers a readable yet scholarly account of the life of one of the greatest statesmen of empire, William Pitt the Elder, First Earl of Chatham (1708-78). Chatham is seen as a political outsider who rose to direct British policy in the Seven Years War, the crucial struggle that gave Canada to Britain. A critic of domestic corruption, he was subsequently a champion of American liberties. Chatham's achievement was all the more remarkable for a politician who was dogged for much of his life by poor physical health and considerable mental stress. His position as an outsider was crucial: it helped make his reputation, and to make him an unsettling figure. It also caused problems when he gained office, but it ensured Chatham was and seemed, 'different'. He was a man with whom the national interest could be associated, not simply because he made the claim himself, but also because he seemed apart from the world of court and connection.

Customer Reviews:

For scholars only ..........2003-08-08

Anyone interested in rigorously researched late XVIII century English politics will probably enjoy (and learn) from Mr. Black's book. His work about William Pitt, after just a brief, usual part of a chapter on his parents, grandparents etc., dips immediately into maneuvers, conter maneuvers and consequences of ever shifting moods within the parliament.

Unfortunately the reader is presumed to know everything about the Seven Year War, the beginnings of America's revolution etc., as well as about England's major political parties and politicians at that time. The reader is supposed to be looking just for how Mr. Pitt and his opponents politicians handled these issues. So quite important historical events pass by as faint backgrounds.

Although this is somewhat intended to be a biography of William Pitt, and not the history of England in the 1700's, one would look for such a towering individual as a wonderful way to see big world events through England's government eyes. Instead we get a vey narrow perspective of these events. Probably that is the way most politicians see things nowadays ...

The elder Pitt, Earl of Chatham
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a good read, suffers from too psychological an analysis

The elder Pitt, Earl of Chatham
Stanley Edward Ayling
Manufacturer: Collins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

General | England | Europe | History | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0002162024

Customer Reviews:

a good read, suffers from too psychological an analysis.......2003-08-20

This biography dates from 1976 and leans noticeably towards a psychological profile of the William Pitt. Pitt is portrayed as a manic-depressive, who spent many years in the political wilderness of opposition in the British House of Commons, being anathema to King George II (and later George III). The book gives credit to his oratory, his ability to make life almost impossible for those, in power, who he opposed. Pitt became part of the government (`The Ministry') during the Seven Years War, and was seen as driving the most successful phase of that war - The conquering of French-Canada, India, West Africa.
Alying is at his most effective when dealing with Pitt and his family. Pitt's grandfather Thomas was a thunderous influence, Pitt's relationship with his elder brother and the various of his sisters was intense, emotional and volatile. The various family connections to the Grenvilles and how this played out in the politics of the day are very clearly illustrated.
There are two areas of difficulty for this reader - one is the basic problem on English Aristocracy, when someone of the characters becomes a Lord. In the text a key player (e.g. Sir Richard Grenville, becomes Lord Temple, John Chateret an early
adversary of Pitts becomes Lord Granville, William Murray becomes Lord Mansfield). It becomes hugely confusing when these people are initially established by their common names to have them change midway into their titles.
The other major problem I had with the text is that it does not give a flavour of the vast effort put into the resourcing of the armed forces in Britain at the time. There are references to the difficulty in raising money and manpower, but the sheer effort involved in keeping the war underway was phenomenal - better books in this regard are `The Bells of Victory' by Richard Middelton and `The Sinews of War' by John Brewer. The main implication of this fault is that it lends too much credence to the `great man' theory ie. that Pitt's superhuman energy alone, shifted the country from lassitude to almost unconditional victory, and as a corollary that Pitt was surrounded by weak-minded ministers who ultimately concluded an unsatisfactory peace. The Duke of Newcastle is the chief victim of the flip side of this `great man' emphasis.
Perhaps as a consequence of this the absolute public outrage which is associated with Pitt's initial acceptance of the previously corrupt post of Paymaster General , and later with his acceptance of his pension and peerage, is underplayed. Pitt spent many years in opposition, deriding the corruption involved in government, for this he was the Whig most admired by Tories, also he was admired by small traders and `the public', their disappointment was therefore most intense when he was seen to abandon his principle.

The book does well on Pitts personal life - he was irritable and irritating, unable to form close friendships, though his seems devoted to his wife and children.
He was frequently in physical pain through gout, and the book lends a lot of credence to the manic-depressive theory of the stages of his life. He is portrayed as a close friend of America, both during its struggle with French Canada and later, with English taxation, which ultimately lead to the Revolution. More detail on this aspect can be found in Fred Anderson's magnificent `The Crucible of War'.

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