Questions about William Pitt the Younger

Short answers, pulled from the story.

When was William Pitt the Younger born and where?

William Pitt the Younger was born on the 28th of May 1759 at Hayes Place in the village of Hayes in Kent. He entered Pembroke College, Cambridge, on the 26th of April 1773 just one month before his fourteenth birthday.

How did William Pitt the Younger become prime minister and how long did he serve?

King George III appointed William Pitt the Younger as Great Britain's youngest prime minister ever to replace the Fox North coalition government in December 1783. His administration survived for seventeen years despite contemporary satire calling it a mince-pie that would not outlast Christmas.

What economic policies did William Pitt the Younger implement regarding national debt and taxation?

In 1786 William Pitt instituted a sinking fund so that £1 million a year was added to accumulate interest and pay off national debt. In 1797 he introduced Great Britain's first-ever income tax to offset losses in indirect tax revenue caused by a decline in trade.

Why did William Pitt the Younger resign from office in 1801?

William Pitt resigned on the 16th of February 1801 because King George III strongly opposed Catholic emancipation. The king argued that granting additional liberty would violate his coronation oath to protect the Church of England.

When did William Pitt the Younger die and what were the circumstances surrounding his death?

William Pitt died at Bowling Green House on Putney Heath on the 23rd of January 1806 probably from peptic ulceration of his stomach or duodenum. He was unmarried and left no children but Parliament agreed to pay his debts which amounted to £40,000 when he died.