George Pitt, 1st Baron Rivers facts for kids
George Pitt, 1st Baron Rivers (born May 1, 1721 – died May 7, 1803) was an important English figure. He was a diplomat, a politician, and a military officer. He also held a special title as a "peer," meaning he was a nobleman. One of his important jobs was being the British ambassador to Spain from 1770 to 1771.
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Early Life and Schooling
George Pitt was born in Geneva, Switzerland. He was the oldest son of George Pitt and Mary Louise Bernier. His family lived at Stratfield Saye House in Hampshire, England. His younger brother was Sir William Augustus Pitt, who became a general.
George went to school at Winchester College. Later, he studied at Magdalen College, Oxford University. He earned two degrees there. From 1740 to 1742, he traveled around Europe. When his father passed away in 1745, George inherited the family home, Stratfield Saye House. He made many changes to the house and its gardens.
Political Career
Soon after returning from Europe, George Pitt became a Member of Parliament (MP). This means he was elected to represent people in the British government. He first represented the town of Shaftesbury. He was part of the Tory political group.
In 1747, he was elected for both Shaftesbury and the county of Dorset. He chose to represent Dorset. He continued to be an MP for Dorset until 1774. Over time, he became more independent in his political views. He supported King George III after the King came to power.
George Pitt also served in the military. When the Dorset Militia (a local army group) was reorganized, he became a Colonel. He held this position until 1798. In 1760, he was given a special role called "Groom of the Bedchamber" to the King. He served the King in this role until 1770.
Working as a Diplomat
From 1761 to 1768, George Pitt worked as a diplomat. He was an "Envoy-extraordinary" to the Kingdom of Sardinia in Turin, Italy. This meant he represented Britain's interests there.
In 1770, he was appointed as the British Ambassador to Spain. However, he only served in this role for about a year.
Becoming a Baron
On May 20, 1776, George Pitt was given a special honor. He was made a "peer," which is a member of the nobility. His new title was Baron Rivers, of Stratfield Saye, Hampshire. This was a very important title.
He continued to serve the country in other ways. In 1780, he became the Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire. This was a high-ranking official representing the King in the county. He later became a "Lord of the Bedchamber" again in 1782. In 1793, he was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Dorset.
In 1802, he received a new title: Baron Rivers, of Sudeley Castle, Gloucestershire. This new title had a special rule for who would inherit it. If he didn't have any more sons, the title would go to his brother, Sir William. If his brother also didn't have sons, it would go to his daughter Louisa's son, Horace Beckford.
George Pitt passed away on May 7, 1803, at Stratfield Saye. His only son, George, inherited his title.
Family Life
On January 4, 1746, George Pitt married Penelope Atkins. She was the daughter of Sir Henry Atkins, 4th Baronet. They had four children together:
- George Pitt, 2nd Baron Rivers (1751–1828)
- Penelope Pitt (1749–1827)
- Louisa Pitt (1754–1791)
- Marcia Lucy Pitt (1756–1822)
George and Penelope's marriage was not always happy, and they separated in 1771. Penelope lived mostly in France and Italy until her death in 1795. She was buried in Livorno, Italy.
Legacy
A place in Canada was named after George Pitt. Rivers Inlet, a long, narrow bay on the coast of British Columbia, was named by Captain George Vancouver.
