The Younger Pitt
1st Edition
Published on 18. December 2020
Book
Hardback
262 pages
978-1-138-40798-5 (ISBN)
Description
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.
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Target group
College/higher education
Undergraduate
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 156 mm
Weight
640 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-138-40798-5 (9781138407985)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Person
Duffy, Michael
Content
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 -- Apostate reformer or compulsive improver? -- Personal limitations as a 'man of business' -- The changing pace of improvement -- CHAPTER 5 'The theatre of future fame': Pitt and the House of Commons -- 'I want to speak in the House of Commons' -- Learning the arts of parliamentary management -- Old and new in the Pitt management style -- Control of the committee system as the key to business -- Toss and throw him as you will, he always lights upon his feet' -- CHAPTER 6 'The impression and effect of numbers on our side': Pitt and the people -- The appeal to 'the public at large' -- Parameters of Pitt's popularism -- Invoking public involvement in politics -- Making a stand upon right ground -- The balance of law and liberty -- Mobilising loyalism -- Knowing 'the people of England' -- CHAPTER 7 'To diminish the temptation to wars of ambition': Pitt and the powers of Europe -- Too inexperienced to meddle much in foreign affairs -- Pitt's Grand Design -- Origins and outbreak of the Great War with France -- Pitt as a War Minister -- The quest for a winning Grand Alliance -- CHAPTER 8 'Enough to kill a man': The erosion of power -- 'The doubt of being equal to all I want to do' -- The Catholic Question and the fall of the Ministry -- Pitt out of Office - the pursuit of 'character' -- The flawed victory of 1804 -- 'Too late for anything': the tragedy of 1805 -- Further reading -- Index.