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The Younger Pitt and the House of Commons
Author(s) -
Duffy Michael
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
history
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.12
H-Index - 15
eISSN - 1468-229X
pISSN - 0018-2648
DOI - 10.1111/1468-229x.00069
Subject(s) - house of commons , portrait , style (visual arts) , order (exchange) , history , commons , economic history , political science , law , art history , economics , finance , archaeology , parliament , politics
This short article re‐examines the management of the House of Commons under William Pitt, challenging an oft‐repeated contemporary characterization of his style as aloof from day‐to‐day parliamentary affairs. A more rounded portrait is offered, in which due account is taken of Pitt's cultivation of ‘men of business’ and his skilful deployment of such MPs in order not only to orchestrate the conduct of debates, but also to exert a profound influence over the all‐important system of parliamentary committees.