William Pitt
(1759-1806), Prime MinisterRegency Portraits Catalogue Entry
Sitter associated with 174 portraits
Pitt dominated Parliament as Tory Prime Minister from 1783 to 1801 and 1804 to 1806. He restructured Britain's finances after the American Revolution and reformed the government of India in 1784. Pitt regarded the French Revolution as a foreign issue but began to worry that British radicals were in touch with French revolutionaries. After France declared war in 1793, he clamped down on domestic dissent with the first series of 'gagging acts'. In 1800 he arranged a Parliamentary union with Ireland but resigned in 1801 over George III's opposition to Catholics sitting in Parliament. Pitt's rivalry with Fox, his political and temperamental opposite, dominated Parliament for over twenty years.
William Pitt; Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville
by John Kay
etching, 1798
NPG D16449
published by John Brydon, after Simon de Koster
stipple engraving, published 13 August 1799
NPG D40247
published by John Brydon, after Simon De Kostar
stipple engraving, published 1799 (1799)
NPG D8726
by Thomas Rowlandson, published by James Whittle
hand-coloured etching, published 1 February 1799
NPG D12677
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching and aquatint, published 29 November 1799
NPG D12715
'Exhibition of a democratic-transparency, - with its effect upon patriotic feelings'
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching and aquatint, published 15 April 1799
NPG D13096
by Charles Brome, after William Owen
line engraving, published 1799
NPG D16448
by John Kay
etching, 1800
NPG D32340
by John Kay
etching, 1800
NPG D16445
'Integrity retiring from office!'
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching and aquatint, published 24 February 1801
NPG D12756
'Political dreamings! - Visions of peace! - Perspective horrors!'
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 9 November 1801
NPG D12769
William Pitt ('The national parachute, - or - John Bull conducted to plenty and emancipation')
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 10 July 1802
NPG D12791
by Anthony Cardon, after and published by Henry Edridge, and published by Colnaghi & Co
stipple engraving, published 26 December 1804
NPG D40248
by Anthony Cardon, after Henry Edridge
stipple engraving, published 1804 (1801)
NPG D5528
'The state waggoner, and John Bull - or - the waggon too much for the donkeys!'
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 14 March 1804
NPG D12829
'Britannia between death and the doctor's'
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 20 May 1804
NPG D12830
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 20 November 1804
NPG D12833
storming Heaven; - with, the gods alarmed for their everlasting-abodes'
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, engraving and aquatint, published 1 May 1804
NPG D13106
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching and aquatint, published 7 August 1804
NPG D13108
by Anthony Cardon, published by and after Henry Edridge
stipple engraving, published 1804 (1801)
NPG D14503
Related People
- William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham (father)
- John Pitt, 2nd Earl of Chatham (brother)
- James Charles Pitt (brother)
- Lady Hester Lucy Stanhope (niece)
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