Historedia
Person

William Pitt the Younger

Events
8
Episodes
18
Years
1780–1806

Every event in Historedia whose sources name William Pitt the Younger, with the role they cite and all of that event’s episodes. This is not a biography, and mentions are grouped by name, so two people with the same name can share this page.

Events and episodes

  1. William Pitt the Younger enters Parliament

    1780–1781

    Role: Candidate and elected Member of Parliament

    1. September 1780 · University of Cambridge constituencyCambridge Election Defeat

      Pitt lost the University of Cambridge seat in the 1780 general election, finishing last among five candidates.

    2. January 1781 · Appleby constituencyAppleby By-Election

      Pitt was elected to the House of Commons in January 1781 via a by-election in the pocket borough of Appleby.

  2. North Carolina authorizes land for Pittsborough

    1787

    Role: Namesake of Pittsboro; British prime minister

    1. 1787 · Chatham County, North CarolinaLegislature authorizes land for the county seat

      In 1787 the North Carolina General Assembly barred a town on Mial Scurlock's land, where the courthouse stood, and authorized purchasing land for the county seat.

    2. 1787 · Pittsboro, North CarolinaPittsborough named county seat

      In 1787 Pittsboro was officially named the county seat of Chatham County, named for William Pitt the Younger, son of the Earl of Chatham.

  3. Onset of the Regency Crisis of 1788

    1788

    Role: Prime Minister who faced the crisis of the King's incapacitating illness

    1. October 1788 · Kingdom of Great BritainOnset of the King's derangement

      George III descended into a bout of mental illness in late October 1788, incapacitating him and beginning the Regency Crisis.

  4. Introduction of the British Income Tax

    1798–1802

    Role: Statesman who announced the income tax in his December 1798 budget and introduced it in 1799

    1. December 1798 · Britain, where the budget announcement was madeAnnouncement in the December 1798 budget

      Pitt announced income tax in his December 1798 budget as preparation for the Napoleonic Wars.

    2. 1799 · Britain, where the tax appliedGraduated rate structure of the 1799 tax

      The tax started at 2 old pence per pound over £60 and reached 2 shillings over £200.

    3. 1799 · Britain, where the tax was collected1799 receipts fall short of expectations

      Pitt hoped for £10 million, but 1799 receipts totalled just over £6 million.

    4. 1802 · Britain, where the tax was abolishedAbolition by Addington during the Peace of Amiens

      The tax was levied from 1799 to 1802, then abolished by Henry Addington during the Peace of Amiens.

  5. Act of Union 1800 creates the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland

    1800–1801

    Role: Prime Minister of Great Britain and first Prime Minister of the United Kingdom

    1. 31 December 1800 · DublinAbolition of the Parliament of Ireland

      The Parliament of Ireland was abolished entirely on 31 December 1800, merging legislatures into a single Parliament of the United Kingdom.

    2. 1 January 1801 · LondonCreation of the United Kingdom

      The Acts of Union 1800 united Great Britain and Ireland into a single sovereign state, effective 1 January 1801.

    3. March 1801 · LondonPitt's Resignation

      William Pitt resigned as Prime Minister in March 1801 over King George III's refusal to grant Catholic emancipation.

    4. March 1801 · LondonAddington Takes Office

      Henry Addington became Prime Minister in 1801, serving until 1804, succeeding Pitt.

  6. United Kingdom general election of 1802

    1802

    Role: Former Prime Minister

    1. 5 July to 28 August 1802 · United Kingdom1802 General Election

      The first UK general election after the Acts of Union 1800, held from July to August 1802, resulted in a comfortable victory for the pro-government coalition.

  7. Addington resigns and Pitt the Younger forms his second ministry (1804)

    1804

    Role: Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (1804-1806)

    1. April 1804 · LondonAddington Resignation

      Henry Addington resigned as Prime Minister in late April 1804 due to the loss of his parliamentary majority and opposition from Pitt and Fox.

    2. 10 May 1804 · LondonPitt's Second Ministry

      William Pitt the Younger returned to the premiership on 10 May 1804, beginning his second term as Prime Minister.

  8. Lord Grenville becomes Prime Minister after Pitt's death

    1806

    Role: Prime Minister (deceased)

    1. 23 January 1806 · Bowling Green House, Putney HeathDeath of William Pitt

      William Pitt the Younger died on 23 January 1806 at Bowling Green House, likely from peptic ulceration.

    2. 11 February 1806 · LondonGrenville Forms Ministry

      Lord Grenville succeeded Pitt as Prime Minister, forming the Ministry of All the Talents on 11 February 1806.

Sources

  1. William Pitt the Younger Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-13
  2. Pittsboro, North Carolina Wikipedia, revision of 2026-05-27
  3. Taxation in the United Kingdom Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-09
  4. 1802 United Kingdom general election Wikipedia, revision of 2026-04-07
  5. Henry Addington Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-13