The Younger Pitt

by Michael Duffy

Overview

The Younger Pitt was a phenomenon: dead at 46, he was not only Britain's youngest but also the second longest-serving Prime Minister to date, acting as premier for 19 of his 25 years in Parliament. In examining this astonishing career, this incisive Profile focuses on the means by which Pitt gained and maintained his hold on power. It provides new information on Pitt's relations with the strong-willed George III; on the nature of his ascendancy over his cabinet colleagues; his management of Parliament; his skill as a manipulator of public opinion; his role in Britain's international resurgence after the loss of America; and, of course, on the long struggle against Revolutionary and Napoleonic France.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781317899624
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	02/04/2016
Series:	Profiles In Power
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	264
File size:	460 KB

About the Author

Michael Duffy

Table of Contents

List of abbreviations
Chronology
INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER 1 'Superior even to Charles Fox':
The short path to power
Great Chatham's son
Shelburne's Chancellor of the Exchequer
Thurlow and Temple's co-conspirator
The King's Minister
CHAPTER 2 'Awkward I am certain in a certain quarter':
Pitt and the King
The alliance of opposites
Management of foreign policy
Patronage and politics
The personal affairs of the Royal Family
CHAPTER 3 'Really master now':
Pitt as Prime Minister
Leading Minister in a coalition Cabinet
The escape from Cabinet constraints
Securing the Premiership: Pitt versus Thurlow
Coalition and containment of the Portland Whigs
The zenith of Pitt's Prime Ministerial system
CHAPTER 4 'The ambition of my life':
Pitt and the business of government
The governing passion

Guiding the national recovery 78
Apostate reformer or compulsive improver? 83
Personallimitations as a 'man of business' 88
The chan ging pace of improvement 92
CHAPTER 5 'The theatre of future farne':
Pitt and the House of Commons 99
'I want to speak in the House of Commons' 99
Learning the arts of parliamentary management 102
Old and new in the Pitt management style 109
Control of the committee system as the key to business 119
'Toss and throw hirn as you will, he always lights
upon his feet' 123
CHAPTER 6 'The impression and effect of numbers on our side':
Pitt and the people 131
The appeal to 'the public at large' 131
Parameters of Pitt's popularism 133
Invoking public involvement in politics 142
Making a stand upon right ground 146
The balance of law and liberty 147
Mobilising loyalism 151
Knowing 'the people of England' 159
CHAPTER 7 'To diminish the temptation to wars of ambition':
Pitt and the powers of Europe 166
Too inexperienced to meddle much in foreign affairs 166
Pitt's Grand Design 173
Origins and outbreak of the Great War with France 178
Pitt as a War Minister 182
The quest for a winning Grand Alliance 190
CHAPTER 8 'Enough to kill a man':
The erosion of power 201
'The doubt of being equal to all I want to do' 201
The Catholic Question and the fall of the Ministry 207
Pitt out of Office - the pursuit of 'character' 212
The flawed victory of 1804 217
'Too late for anything': the tragedy of 1805 222
Further reading 232
Index

Editorial Reviews

William Pitt (1759-1806) was not only Britain's youngest Prime Minister, but also the second-longest serving, being premier for 19 of his 25 years in Parliament until his early death. Duffy (history, U. of Exeter) focuses on the means by which he gained and maintained his hold on power, particularly his relations with George III, his ascendance over cabinet colleagues, his methods for controlling Parliament, and his skill as a manipulator of public opinion. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews

"an excellent essay"English Historical Review "a fresh analysis...enviably lucidly written"History

From the Publisher