THIS WEEK'S GREAT DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 19, 23 January 1929, Page 6

THIS WEEK'S GREAT DAY.

JANUARY 23—DEATH OF

WILLIAM PITT.

One hundred and twenty-three years ago, on January 23, 1806, William Pitt died at the comparatively early age of 47. He had heen one of the very rare instances of an infant prodigy whose achievements in after-life realised the promise of childhood. He was born on May 23, 1739, and was the second son of William Pitt, Earl of Chatham, who was then at'the zenith of his brilliant career. From an early age William Pitt the Younger was encouraged by his father to take an interest in public affairs, and he was systematically trained by him in statecraft and politics, so that at the age of seven the boy was thoroughly acquainted with the principal political questions of Jhe day, while at 14 ho was able to discuss public affairs with something of the wit and wisdom of his father.

Owing to ill-health he was not sent to any of the great public schools, and he received his early education from a private tutor, but at the age of 15 he entered Cambridge University, where he greatly distinguished himself as a mathematical and classical scholar.

In January, 1771, he became a member of Parliament, and a month later his maiden speech astonished and delighted the House of Commons. Eighteen months afterwards he was entrusted with the important post of Chancellor of the Exchequer, and given a seat in the Cabinet, and he had not completed his twenty-fifth year when he became Prime Minister. He held this office, without a break, for nearly 17 years, during which period Britain was passing through one of the greatest crises in her history. He was the first statesman to realise the important part which industry was destined to play in promoting the welfare of the world, and that the bert security for peace lay in the freedom and widening of commercial intercourse between nations. His administration marked a new departure in British statesmanship, and during the first hall of his lengthy government of the realm he was the greatest subject in the world, and he wielded a wider power and influence than any of his predecessors.

He was essentially a peace Minister, and he lacked many of the requisite qualifications to successfully carry through a sustained and vigorous war policy. From the moment when France declared war against Britain in 1793 his popularity and influence with the general public began to decline, but his power m the House of Commons remained unshaken until the downfall of his Ministry in March, 1801.

After three years in opposition he was again called upon to form a Ministry in 1804, and he accepted the task with the full intention of taking Charles .lames Fox, his great political rival, into the Cabinet, but he foolishly yielded to the wishes of George HI., who hated Fox, and refrained from including the powerful statesman in his Government. For nearly two years he struggled against a long series of disasters until his health was completely shattered by the strain, and he died on the twenty-first anniversary of the day upon which he first took his seat" in the House of Commons.

The career of William Pitt was specially notable for the purity of his private life, but his utter disregard for money resulted in bis dying deeply in debt, but this slur upon his memory was speedily removed by Parliament voting the sum of £40,000 to be paid to his manv creditors.