On This Day

14 October 1768

William Pitt, Earl of Chatham resigns as Prime Minister

Pitt had been ill for some time and unable to attend cabinet and lead the government. His position as the ‘great commoner’ had been weakened by his move to the House of Lords. Left without a leader, ministers carried on as best they could often without consulting the Prime Minister. Pitt eventually gave up his untenable position, complaining about the way he had been treated. His successor, the Duke of Grafton, had been de facto leader for the previous year and with so many of his cabinet, including the Marquess of Bath, Lord North, Lord Camden and Lord Hawke having served under Pitt, Grafton offered a continuation of the previous administration.