ChronoCite

Public figure timelines

William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham — ChronoCite timeline | ChronoCite

William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham — John Giles Eccardt (floruit 1779) · Public domain · Source

Figure timeline

William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham

William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham was a British Whig statesman who served as Prime Minister of Great Britain from 1766 to 1768. Historians call him "Chatham" or "Pitt the Elder" to distinguish him from his son William Pitt the Younger, who also served as prime minister. Pitt was also known as "the Great Commoner" because of his long-standing refusal to accept a title until 1766.

Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

politics · Prime Minister of Great Britain 1766–1768 (1708–1778) · politician · also William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham, William Pitt, Earl of Chatham, William Pitt Earl of Chatham, The Great Commoner, Pitt the Elder, William, 1st Earl of Chatham Pitt

Born 15 November 1708 · Died 11 May 1778 · Q208663

Wikipedia Wikiquote RSS

15 published statements · 0 followers

See & hear

Photos & media

14 photos

Media from Wikimedia Commons, hotlinked at the source under its own licence — see each file for author and terms.

Live now

In the news

Pulling headlines from trusted outlets — this usually takes a few seconds

Checking the wires…

Feed scan

These are live links, not archived citations — they only join the timeline once a collect run verifies and archives them.

Live pulse

Recent highlights

Most recent outstanding titles, awards, and quotes

Aug 2026Quote
My Lord, I am sure I can save this country, and no one else can
76%WikipediaSource Permalink
Jan 1778Quote
We are now to examine whether it is probable that we shall preserve our commerce and our independence, or whether we are sinking into subjection to a foreign power.
68%Wikiquote (en)Source Permalink

2026· 1 entry

Aug 21, 2026Documented record76% confidence

William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham

“My Lord, I am sure I can save this country, and no one else can”

WikipediaTrusted source1 sourceLive source Archived

Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

#wikipedia
#quote

1835· 1 entry

1835Source gives the year onlyDocumented record72% confidence

William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham

John Pitt, 2nd Earl of Chatham (1756–1835), who married The Hon.

WikipediaTrusted source1 sourceLive source Archived

Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

#wikipedia
#life
#family-and-personal-life

1778· 8 entries

May 11, 1778Documented record86% confidence

William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham

Died 1778-05-11.

WikipediaTrusted source1 sourceLive source Archived

Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

#wikidata
#death

c. 1778Exact date was not recorded in the sourceDirect quote68% confidence

William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham

“Our seamen have always been famous for a matchless alacrity and intrepidity in time of danger; this has saved many a British ship, when other seamen would have run below deck, and left the ship to the mercy of the waves, or, perhaps, of a more cruel enemy, a pirate.”

Wikiquote (en)Trusted source1 sourceLive source Archived

#wikiquote
#saying
#undated
#lang:en

c. 1778Exact date was not recorded in the sourceDirect quote68% confidence

William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham

“He wanted to call this country out of that enervate state, that twenty thousand men from France could shake it. The maxims of our Government were degenerated, not our natives. He wished to see that breed restored, which under our old principles had carried our glory so high!”

Wikiquote (en)Trusted source1 sourceLive source Archived

#wikiquote
#saying
#undated
#lang:en

c. 1778Exact date was not recorded in the sourceDirect quote67% confidence

William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham

“[Pitt] said he could not allow what I said; that either we were in a situation to receive the law or to give it; that he thought the latter was our case; that therefore it was our business to propose the terms and tell France on what conditions they were to have peace; that it was so at the Peace of Utrecht and it would be absurd to act otherways.”

Wikiquote (en)Trusted source1 sourceLive source Archived

#wikiquote
#saying
#undated
#lang:en

c. 1778Exact date was not recorded in the sourceDirect quote66% confidence

William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham

“While we had France for an enemy, Germany was the scene to employ and baffle her arms.”

Wikiquote (en)Trusted source1 sourceLive source Archived

#wikiquote
#saying
#undated
#lang:en

c. 1778Exact date was not recorded in the sourceDirect quote65% confidence

William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham

“The poorest man may in his cottage bid defiance to all the forces of the Crown. It may be frail—its roof may shake—the wind may blow through it—the storm may enter—the rain may enter—but the King of England cannot enter!—all his force dares not cross the threshold of the ruined tenement!”

Wikiquote (en)Trusted source1 sourceLive source Archived

#wikiquote
#saying
#undated
#lang:en

c. 1778Exact date was not recorded in the sourceDirect quote65% confidence

William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham

“Confidence is a plant of slow growth in an aged bosom.”

Wikiquote (en)Trusted source1 sourceLive source Archived

#wikiquote
#saying
#undated
#lang:en

c. 1778Exact date was not recorded in the sourceDirect quote68% confidence

William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham

“We are now to examine whether it is probable that we shall preserve our commerce and our independence, or whether we are sinking into subjection to a foreign power.”

Wikiquote (en)Trusted source1 sourceLive source Archived

#wikiquote
#saying
#undated
#lang:en

1766· 2 entries

Jan 1, 1766Documented record84% confidence

William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham

Career landmark: Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (1766–1768).

WikipediaTrusted source1 sourceLive source Archived

Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

#wikidata
#milestone

Jan 1, 1766Documented record84% confidence

William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham

Career landmark: Lord Privy Seal (1766–1768).

WikipediaTrusted source1 sourceLive source Archived

Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

#wikidata
#milestone

1757· 1 entry

Jan 1, 1757Documented record84% confidence

William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham

Career landmark: Leader of the House of Commons (1757–1761).

WikipediaTrusted source1 sourceLive source Archived

Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

#wikidata
#milestone

1756· 1 entry

Jan 1, 1756Documented record84% confidence

William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham

Career landmark: Leader of the House of Commons (1756–1757).

WikipediaTrusted source1 sourceLive source Archived

Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

#wikidata
#milestone

1708· 1 entry

Nov 15, 1708Documented record86% confidence

William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham

Born 1708-11-15.

WikipediaTrusted source1 sourceLive source Archived

Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

#wikidata
#birth