This date in 1708 was the birthdate of William Pitt the Elder, First Earl of Chatham, British Prime Minister and noted orator. 10 facts about him:
He was born Golden Square, Westminster. His mother was Lady Harriet Villiers, daughter of Viscount Grandison, who belonged to the Anglo-Irish nobility and his father was Robert Pitt, a member of Parliament.
His grandfather, Thomas, was governor of the East India Company’s “factory” at Madras (now Chennai). He was known as “Diamond” Pitt and was known for his temper, and for not getting on with “that hellish confusion that is my family.” He was, however, affectionate towards the young William.
William Pitt attended Eton and then Trinity College, Oxford.
He suffered from gout from an early age, which ruled him out of many sporting activities. He read a lot, and his favourite poet was Virgil.
As a second son, he didn’t inherit the family estate and so had to find a career. He chose the military – a school friend called George Lyttelton, introduced him to Richard Temple, Viscount Cobham in 1731 and Pitt gained a commission in Temple’s regiment.
William Pitt was elected to the family pocket borough of Old Sarum in 1735. He sided with the opposition to Walpole, joining Cobham’s nephews Richard Grenville and Lyttelton as a member of the group known as ‘Cobham’s cubs’.
He was known for being leader during the Seven Years War, when he declared, “I am sure I can save this country, and nobody else can.”
He became known as the 'Great Commoner' due to his refusal to accept a title until 1766.
He married Lady Hester Grenville, sister of Richard Grenville in November 1754. They had five children, including William Pitt the Younger, who became prime minister in 1783.
He died on 11 May 1778 at the age of 69. His son William read the passage in Homer’s Iliad on Hector’s farewell to him on his death bed.
NEW!!
Beta
(Combat Team Series #2)
Steff was abducted by an evil alien race, the Orbs, at fourteen. Used as a weapon for years, he eventually escapes, but his problems are just beginning. How does a man support himself when his only work experience is a paper round and using an Orb bio-integrated gun?
Warlord is an alien soldier who knows little but war. When the centuries-old conflict which ravaged his planet ends, he seeks out another world where his skills are still relevant. There are always wars on Earth, it seems. However, none of Earth's powerful armies want him.
Natalie has always wanted to visit England and sees a chance to do so while using her martial arts skills, but there are sacrifices she must make in order to fulfil her dream.
Maggie resorted to crime to fund her sister's medical care. She uses her genetic variant abilities to gain access to the rooms of wealthy hotel guests. The Ballards look like rich pickings, but they are not what they seem. When Maggie targets them, little does she know that she is walking into a trap.
Hotel owner Hamilton Lonsdale puts together a combat team to pit against those of other multi-millionaires. He recruits Warlord, Natalie, Maggie and Steff along with a trained gorilla, a probability-altering alien, a stockbroker whose work of art proved to be much more than he'd bargained for, a marketing officer who can create psionic forcefields, a teleporting member of the landed gentry, and a socially awkward fixer. This is Combat Team Beta.
Steff never talks about his time with the Orbs, until he finds a woman who lived through it, too. Steff believes he has finally found happiness, but it is destined to be short-lived. He is left with an unusual legacy which he and Team Beta struggle to comprehend; including why something out there seems determined to destroy it.
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