William Pitt 'The Younger' 1783-1801 and 1804-6 Tory
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William Pitt 'The Younger' 1783-1801 and 1804-6 Tory

William Pitt the YoungerBorn: 28 May 1759 in Hayes, Kent

First entered Parliament: 8 January 1781

Age he became PM: 24 years, 205 days and 44 years, 348 days

Maiden1 speech: 26 February 1781 on the debate on Edmund Burke's motion for the reintroduction of the Bill for Economical Reform

Total time as PM: 18 years, 343 days

Died: 23 January 1806 at Putney Heath, London

Facts and figures

Nickname: "Pitt the Younger"

Education: Pembroke Hall, Cambridge

Family: Pitt was the second son and fourth of five children. He was unmarried.

Interests: Keen gardener, loved riding and shooting, played chess

Biography

Youngest PM

Taking up office at the age of 24 years and 205 days, William Pitt was the youngest ever prime minister, and one of the longest in the role.

His time at Number 10 was momentous2. Pitt led the country through major events including the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars, regained3 financial stability for Britain after the American War of Independence, and brought about Union with Ireland.

He also helped to define the role of the Prime Minister as the supervisor4 and co-ordinator of the various Government departments.

The son of Pitt the Elder, the Earl of Chatham, William Pitt was almost born to be prime minister. Immersed in political life from a young age, Pitt the

Younger is said to have expressed parliamentary ambitions even at the age of seven.

Called to the Bar

He was educated at home due to his poor health, but later studied at Cambridge, from where he graduated at the age of just seventeen. He then went on to study law, and was called to the Bar in 1780.

Pitt stood unsuccessfully for the parliamentary seat of Cambridge University in 1780, but the next year was returned as MP for Appleby in Cumbria at the age of 21. He later represented Cambridge University.

In the House of Commons, he proved himself a talented speaker. He used this talent to join with Whig politician Charles Fox in calling for peace with the Americans.

When Pitt later joined the Opposition5, Fox would become a fierce rival.

The following year Pitt became Chancellor6 of the Exchequer7 and Leader of the House under Lord Shelburne. His acceptance was regarded as a betrayal by Fox, who had refused to serve in this government himself.

"Kingdom trusted to a schoolboy"

He was 24 when he took on the role, which caused some public concern. A popular ditty commented that it was "a sight to make all nations stand and stare: a kingdom trusted to a schoolboy's care."

Pitt wanted to reorganise The East India CompanyAgainst early predictions, Pitt's ministry8 survived for 17 years. In government, he stood for parliamentary reform to reduce the direct influence of the monarch9 and the capacity for bribery10; union with Ireland; Catholic emancipation11; reorganisation of the East India Company; reduction of the national debt; and free trade.

During his first year he suffered many defeats but was undeterred, and was increasingly fired by criticisms from his rival, Fox.

His popularity rose steadily12, and he won a very large majority in a well-timed General Election in 1784. During 1784 Pitt set about reducing the national debt and combating smuggling13.

The India Act 1784 established dual14 control of the East India Company, and centralised British rule in India by reducing the power of the Governors of Bombay and Madras and increasing that of the Governor-General. T

he session of 1785 was more difficult. Pitt launched a Reform Bill, which would rationalise dozens of "rotten borough15" constituencies. This key bill was rejected, as was a Union with Ireland Bill.

A further difficulty arose when King George III's mental illness led Pitt's opponents to advocate that sovereignty should pass to the Prince of Wales. However, the King recovered in 1789, just after a Regency Bill had been passed in the House of Commons.

Pitt was called to form a goverment when Napoleon threatened invasionIn the early 1790s the development of the revolution in France caused Pitt to worry about its effects in Britain. He reacted by expelling the French ambassador, and was blamed by Fox for the war with France that began in 1793.

War also led to increased taxes and duties at a time when basic foods were scarce. Pitt was also forced to introduce Great Britain's first ever income tax.

The new tax helped offset16 losses in indirect tax revenue, which had been caused by a decline in trade. There were problems with Ireland too. In 1798, Irish nationalists even attempted a rebellion, believing that the French would help them overthrow17 the monarchy18.

In 1800 Pitt's Act of Union with Ireland sought to resolve the conflicts there and grant Catholics equality.

The United Kingdom

Great Britain and Ireland were formally united into a single realm, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, on 1 January 1801. In 1801, however, Pitt's attempt to abolish restrictions19 on Roman Catholics, who formed a majority in Ireland, proved unsuccessful.

King George III refused to accept Pitt's Emancipation of Catholics Bill, saying that his assent20 would break his coronation oath of loyalty21 to the Church of England. Pitt resigned, having lost the confidence of the King, and Addington became prime minister.

Three years later, King George III asked Pitt to form a second government when Napoleon was threatening invasion. Pitt accepted, despite his failing health, possible alcoholism and limited support in the House of Commons.

He formed an alliance with Russia, Austria and Sweden against France. After victory at the Battle of Trafalgar, Pitt was hailed as the saviour22 of Europe.

However, Napoleon went on to defeat Russia and Austria in 1805 at Ulm and Austerlitz, effectively conquering Europe. It was a profound personal blow for Pitt.

He died at the age of 46 on 23 January 1806. His last words were 'Oh my country! How I love my country!'

Quote unquote

On the execution of Louis XVI of France: "On every principle by which men of justice and honour are actuated, it is the foulest23 and most atrocious deed which the history of the world has yet had occasion to attest24."

Did you know?

He was unmarried on his death and in debt to the tune25 of £40,000. Parliament agreed to pay the sum on his behalf, and granted Pitt the honour of burial in Westminster Abbey.



点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 maiden yRpz7     
n.少女,处女;adj.未婚的,纯洁的,无经验的
参考例句:
  • The prince fell in love with a fair young maiden.王子爱上了一位年轻美丽的少女。
  • The aircraft makes its maiden flight tomorrow.这架飞机明天首航。
2 momentous Zjay9     
adj.重要的,重大的
参考例句:
  • I am deeply honoured to be invited to this momentous occasion.能应邀出席如此重要的场合,我深感荣幸。
  • The momentous news was that war had begun.重大的新闻是战争已经开始。
3 regained 51ada49e953b830c8bd8fddd6bcd03aa     
复得( regain的过去式和过去分词 ); 赢回; 重回; 复至某地
参考例句:
  • The majority of the people in the world have regained their liberty. 世界上大多数人已重获自由。
  • She hesitated briefly but quickly regained her poise. 她犹豫片刻,但很快恢复了镇静。
4 supervisor RrZwv     
n.监督人,管理人,检查员,督学,主管,导师
参考例句:
  • Between you and me I think that new supervisor is a twit.我们私下说,我认为新来的主管人是一个傻瓜。
  • He said I was too flighty to be a good supervisor.他说我太轻浮不能成为一名好的管理员。
5 opposition eIUxU     
n.反对,敌对
参考例句:
  • The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
  • The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。
6 chancellor aUAyA     
n.(英)大臣;法官;(德、奥)总理;大学校长
参考例句:
  • They submitted their reports to the Chancellor yesterday.他们昨天向财政大臣递交了报告。
  • He was regarded as the most successful Chancellor of modern times.他被认为是现代最成功的财政大臣。
7 exchequer VnxxT     
n.财政部;国库
参考例句:
  • In Britain the Chancellor of the Exchequer deals with taxes and government spending.英国的财政大臣负责税务和政府的开支。
  • This resulted in a considerable loss to the exchequer.这使国库遭受了重大损失。
8 ministry kD5x2     
n.(政府的)部;牧师
参考例句:
  • They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
  • We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。
9 monarch l6lzj     
n.帝王,君主,最高统治者
参考例句:
  • The monarch's role is purely ceremonial.君主纯粹是个礼仪职位。
  • I think myself happier now than the greatest monarch upon earth.我觉得这个时候比世界上什么帝王都快乐。
10 bribery Lxdz7Z     
n.贿络行为,行贿,受贿
参考例句:
  • FBI found out that the senator committed bribery.美国联邦调查局查明这个参议员有受贿行为。
  • He was charged with bribery.他被指控受贿。
11 emancipation Sjlzb     
n.(从束缚、支配下)解放
参考例句:
  • We must arouse them to fight for their own emancipation. 我们必须唤起他们为其自身的解放而斗争。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • They rejoiced over their own emancipation. 他们为自己的解放感到欢欣鼓舞。 来自《简明英汉词典》
12 steadily Qukw6     
adv.稳定地;不变地;持续地
参考例句:
  • The scope of man's use of natural resources will steadily grow.人类利用自然资源的广度将日益扩大。
  • Our educational reform was steadily led onto the correct path.我们的教学改革慢慢上轨道了。
13 smuggling xx8wQ     
n.走私
参考例句:
  • Some claimed that the docker's union fronted for the smuggling ring.某些人声称码头工人工会是走私集团的掩护所。
  • The evidence pointed to the existence of an international smuggling network.证据表明很可能有一个国际走私网络存在。
14 dual QrAxe     
adj.双的;二重的,二元的
参考例句:
  • The people's Republic of China does not recognize dual nationality for any Chinese national.中华人民共和国不承认中国公民具有双重国籍。
  • He has dual role as composer and conductor.他兼作曲家及指挥的双重身分。
15 borough EdRyS     
n.享有自治权的市镇;(英)自治市镇
参考例句:
  • He was slated for borough president.他被提名做自治区主席。
  • That's what happened to Harry Barritt of London's Bromley borough.住在伦敦的布罗姆利自治市的哈里.巴里特就经历了此事。
16 offset mIZx8     
n.分支,补偿;v.抵消,补偿
参考例句:
  • Their wage increases would be offset by higher prices.他们增加的工资会被物价上涨所抵消。
  • He put up his prices to offset the increased cost of materials.他提高了售价以补偿材料成本的增加。
17 overthrow PKDxo     
v.推翻,打倒,颠覆;n.推翻,瓦解,颠覆
参考例句:
  • After the overthrow of the government,the country was in chaos.政府被推翻后,这个国家处于混乱中。
  • The overthrow of his plans left him much discouraged.他的计划的失败使得他很气馁。
18 monarchy e6Azi     
n.君主,最高统治者;君主政体,君主国
参考例句:
  • The monarchy in England plays an important role in British culture.英格兰的君主政体在英国文化中起重要作用。
  • The power of the monarchy in Britain today is more symbolical than real.今日英国君主的权力多为象徵性的,无甚实际意义。
19 restrictions 81e12dac658cfd4c590486dd6f7523cf     
约束( restriction的名词复数 ); 管制; 制约因素; 带限制性的条件(或规则)
参考例句:
  • I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
  • a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制
20 assent Hv6zL     
v.批准,认可;n.批准,认可
参考例句:
  • I cannot assent to what you ask.我不能应允你的要求。
  • The new bill passed by Parliament has received Royal Assent.议会所通过的新方案已获国王批准。
21 loyalty gA9xu     
n.忠诚,忠心
参考例句:
  • She told him the truth from a sense of loyalty.她告诉他真相是出于忠诚。
  • His loyalty to his friends was never in doubt.他对朋友的一片忠心从来没受到怀疑。
22 saviour pjszHK     
n.拯救者,救星
参考例句:
  • I saw myself as the saviour of my country.我幻想自己为国家的救星。
  • The people clearly saw her as their saviour.人们显然把她看成了救星。
23 foulest 9b81e510adc108dc234d94a9b24de8db     
adj.恶劣的( foul的最高级 );邪恶的;难闻的;下流的
参考例句:
  • Most of the foremen abused the workmen in the foulest languages. 大多数的工头用极其污秽的语言辱骂工人。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Of all men the drunkard is the foulest. 男人中最讨人厌的是酒鬼。 来自辞典例句
24 attest HO3yC     
vt.证明,证实;表明
参考例句:
  • I can attest to the absolute truth of his statement. 我可以证实他的话是千真万确的。
  • These ruins sufficiently attest the former grandeur of the place. 这些遗迹充分证明此处昔日的宏伟。
25 tune NmnwW     
n.调子;和谐,协调;v.调音,调节,调整
参考例句:
  • He'd written a tune,and played it to us on the piano.他写了一段曲子,并在钢琴上弹给我们听。
  • The boy beat out a tune on a tin can.那男孩在易拉罐上敲出一首曲子。
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