Robert Pitt facts for kids
Robert Pitt (born 1680, died 1727) was a British politician. He was a Member of Parliament, which means he helped make laws for the country. He served in the House of Commons from 1705 until he died. Robert Pitt is famous because he was the father and grandfather of two future Prime Ministers: William Pitt the Elder and William Pitt the Younger.
Robert Pitt's Early Life
Robert Pitt was the oldest son of Thomas Pitt. His father was a very successful businessman. Thomas Pitt made a lot of money while working in India. He became known as 'Diamond' Pitt because he bought a huge, famous gem called the Pitt Diamond. He later sold this diamond for a big profit. This valuable diamond was even brought into Britain hidden in Robert Pitt's boot! In 1704, Robert Pitt married Harriet Villiers. She was the daughter of Edward Villiers-FitzGerald and Katherine FitzGerald. Katherine was a wealthy heiress from Ireland.
His Time in Politics
In 1705, Robert Pitt became a Member of Parliament (MP) for a place called Old Sarum. This was a "pocket borough," which meant his family had a lot of control over who got elected there. He kept this seat in the 1708 election.
However, in 1710, his father did not choose him to run for Old Sarum. So, Robert ran for a different place, Salisbury, and won. In the 1713 election, he came in third for Salisbury. But his father then helped him get elected back in Old Sarum.
For the 1715 election, Pitt tried for both Old Sarum and Salisbury. He only won the seat for Old Sarum. In the 1722 election, he ran for Old Sarum and Okehampton. He chose to represent Okehampton and stayed there until he passed away.
Most of his family were part of the Whig political group. But Robert Pitt became a Tory. This might have been because he wanted to be different from his very strong-willed Whig father.
Family and Later Life
When his father died in 1726, Robert Pitt inherited the family's large estate called Boconnoc in Cornwall. Sadly, he died just one year later in 1727.
Robert Pitt had two sons and five daughters. His older son, Thomas Pitt, also became a Member of Parliament for Okehampton. The entire Pitt family estate then passed to Thomas.
Robert's second son was William Pitt the Elder. William Pitt the Elder became a very important British statesman. He led the country as Prime Minister three different times between 1756 and 1768. Robert's daughter, Harriott, married William Corbet. Robert's grandson, William Pitt the Younger, also became Prime Minister in 1783. Robert Pitt was also related to General James Stanhope through his sister, Lucy Pitt.
