Pitt's last speech and collapse in the House of Lords
- When
- 7 April 1778
- Where
- House of Lords, Palace of Westminster
On 7 April 1778 Pitt spoke in the House of Lords against Richmond's motion for peace with America on any terms, opposing independence, and collapsed during the debate.
Pitt's last appearance in the House of Lords was on 7 April 1778, during debate on the Duke of Richmond's motion for an address praying the king to conclude peace with America on any terms. He spoke against granting independence to the American colonies. His reported last words before collapsing include "My Lords, any state is better than despair; if we must fall, let us fall like men," though James Harris recorded, on Lord Nugent's authority, the words "If the Americans defend independence, they shall find me in their way."
Sources
- William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-22
- Parliament of Great Britain Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-23
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