Assess the reasons for Pitt’s long tenure in office, 1783-1801
Pitt’s long tenure in office can be attributed to a number of factors, including the weakness and divisions within his opposition as well as his personal qualities. However, King George III’s continued support was the main reason why Pitt managed to remain in office for such a long period. The support of George III is the only reason Pitt had a tenure in office at all. Pitt was not a leader of a political party and only had limited experience in the cabinet, serving as Chancellor of the Exchequer between July 1782 and February 1783. He was certainly an outsider, and would almost certainly not come into power without the help of the King. Because he was appointed by someone with such a large influence, he immediately won the support of those loyal to the King, including country gentlemen in the House of Commons, which was important because he would have to…show more content… Another factor was Pitt’s personal qualities. Pitt was extremely studious and intelligent, demonstrated by the fact that he studied at Cambridge University at the age of 14. He was also a gifted public speaker, and it could be argued that it was these qualities were what attracted George III in the first place. In office, he was not a controversial figure and always seemed to talk sense, even if he was a more subdued figured than his main rival, Charles Fox. This helped him boost his public perception. Furthermore, he was a very competent politician. This can be shown in a number of ways, for example, deploying the Sinking Fund in 1786 reduced the debt by £10 million by 1793. Also in 1786, making an agreement with France to sign the Eden Treaty doubled the value of British trade to Europe. This gained the further trust of the public, as well as independent politicians that Pitt wanted on his
