General
A general officer is an Officer (armed forces), officer of high rank in the army, armies, and in some nations' air force, air and space forces, marines or naval infantry.
In some usages, the term "general officer" refers to a rank above colone ...
John Pitt, 2nd Earl of Chatham (9 October 1756 – 24 September 1835) was a British soldier and politician. He spent a lengthy period in the cabinet but is best known for commanding the disastrous
Walcheren Campaign
The Walcheren Campaign () was an unsuccessful United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, British expedition to the Kingdom of Holland in 1809 intended to open another front in the Austrian Empire's struggle with First French Empire, France ...
of 1809.
Chatham was the eldest son of
William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham
William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham (15 November 170811 May 1778) was a British people, British British Whig Party, Whig politician, statesman who served as Prime Minister of Great Britain from 1766 to 1768. Historians call him "Chatham" or "Pit ...
. He was two and a half years older than his famous brother
William Pitt the Younger
William Pitt (28 May 1759 – 23 January 1806) was a British statesman who served as the last prime minister of Kingdom of Great Britain, Great Britain from 1783 until the Acts of Union 1800, and then first Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, p ...
, the future prime minister. After serving as a junior officer in the
American War of Independence, he succeeded his father as
Earl of Chatham in 1778. Politically he was a close supporter of his brother during the following decade, leading to his appointment as
First Lord of the Admiralty in 1788. Despite overseeing the
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy (RN) is the naval warfare force of the United Kingdom. It is a component of His Majesty's Naval Service, and its officers hold their commissions from the King of the United Kingdom, King. Although warships were used by Kingdom ...
's victory at the
Glorious First of June in 1794, he faced criticism for his handling of the Admiralty and was demoted to the comparatively unimportant post of
Lord Privy Seal
The Lord Privy Seal (or, more formally, the Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal) is the fifth of the Great Officers of State (United Kingdom), Great Officers of State in the United Kingdom, ranking beneath the Lord President of the Council and abov ...
. Although he continued to serve in William's cabinet, the relationship between the two brothers never fully recovered after this point.
After serving in the 1799
Helder Campaign, he was promoted to be
Master General of the Ordnance in 1801. This became a key role in the next few years when a
French invasion appeared imminent, and he helped oversee Britain's defences including the construction of a series of
martello tower
Martello towers are small defensive forts that were built across the British Empire during the 19th century, from the time of the French Revolutionary Wars onwards. Most were coastal forts.
They stand up to high (with two floors) and typica ...
s. He grew increasingly independent from his brother and did not resign from the cabinet when William Pitt left office in 1801. He held this post under
Henry Addington and when his brother returned to office again in 1804. Following his brother's death in 1806, he briefly went into opposition against the
Ministry of All the Talents before returning as Master General in the new
Tory
A Tory () is an individual who supports a political philosophy known as Toryism, based on a British version of traditionalist conservatism which upholds the established social order as it has evolved through the history of Great Britain. The To ...
government of 1807. He also continued his military career, being promoted to
lieutenant general
Lieutenant general (Lt Gen, LTG and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages, where the title of lieutenant general was held by the second-in-command on the battlefield, who was norma ...
and appointed to several commands in charge of home defence.
Considered on at least two occasions as a possible prime minister, Chatham rejected these approaches due to poor health of his wife. He also turned down the prospect of commanding British troops in Portugal in 1808 at the beginning of the
Peninsular War
The Peninsular War (1808–1814) was fought in the Iberian Peninsula by Kingdom of Portugal, Portugal, Spain and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, United Kingdom against the invading and occupying forces of the First French ...
, a command that instead went to
Arthur Wellesley. In 1809 he did accept command of an expedition to the island of
Walcheren
Walcheren () is a region and former island in the Dutch province of Zeeland at the mouth of the Scheldt estuary. It lies between the Eastern Scheldt in the north and the Western Scheldt in the south and is roughly the shape of a rhombus. The two ...
, as part of a plan to strike at a French fleet being assembled in nearby
Antwerp
Antwerp (; ; ) is a City status in Belgium, city and a Municipalities of Belgium, municipality in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is the capital and largest city of Antwerp Province, and the third-largest city in Belgium by area at , after ...
. Despite overseeing the largest force Britain had despatched abroad during the war, the expedition became bogged down on the island and began suffering heavy casualty rates due to disease. Chatham was recalled and was subject to an inquiry that largely placed the blame on him.
After a number of years in the political wilderness, in 1820 Chatham was made
Governor of Gibraltar. Although Europe was at peace by this time, Gibraltar remained a key strategic post, and he oversaw improvements to the defences while also dealing with a difficult diplomatic relationship with neighbouring Spain which was going through a period of
political turbulence.
Early life
John Pitt was born on 9 October 1756 at
Hayes Place in Kent, the home of his father
William Pitt. He was the second child and eldest son of Pitt and his wife
Hester Grenville. In his early years, his father was
Secretary of State at the height of the
Seven Years' War
The Seven Years' War, 1756 to 1763, was a Great Power conflict fought primarily in Europe, with significant subsidiary campaigns in North America and South Asia. The protagonists were Kingdom of Great Britain, Great Britain and Kingdom of Prus ...
, winning great popularity with the public due to a string of victories over the French – particularly during the
Annus Mirabilis of 1759 – until his dramatic resignation in 1761. At the age of five, John became heir to a peerage when his mother was made
Baroness Chatham. In 1766 his father returned to office as
Prime Minister
A prime minister or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. A prime minister is not the head of state, but r ...
, taking the title of
Earl of Chatham which John also became heir to styled as Viscount Pitt.
As a child he was often in poor health, suffering frequent
fevers. His parents chose not to send him to
Eton, which his father had hated. Instead, he was educated at the family homes in Hayes and
Burton Pynsent
Curry Rivel is a village and civil parish in Somerset
Somerset ( , ), Archaism, archaically Somersetshire ( , , ) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South West England. It is bordered by the Bristol Channel, Glouc ...
in Somerset by a
tutor
Tutoring is private academic help, usually provided by an expert teacher; someone with deep knowledge or defined expertise in a particular subject or set of subjects.
A tutor, formally also called an academic tutor, is a person who provides assis ...
. By 1761 he had four siblings, two sisters
Hester and Harriet and two brothers
William
William is a masculine given name of Germanic languages, Germanic origin. It became popular in England after the Norman Conquest, Norman conquest in 1066,All Things William"Meaning & Origin of the Name"/ref> and remained so throughout the Middle ...
and James. He was emotionally very close to his brothers and disliked whenever he was separated from them. He grew up to be something of a
dandy
A dandy is a man who places particular importance upon physical appearance and personal grooming, refined language and leisurely hobbies. A dandy could be a self-made man both in person and ''persona'', who emulated the aristocratic style of l ...
in his dress and greatly enjoyed hunting. Already, however, despite his natural intelligence, he was beginning to show signs of laziness that were later to be sharply criticised during his political career. To the delight of his father, Pitt began showing interest in pursuing a military career.
Early career

Chatham joined the army as an
ensign
Ensign most often refers to:
* Ensign (flag), a flag flown on a vessel to indicate nationality
* Ensign (rank), a navy (and former army) officer rank
Ensign or The Ensign may also refer to:
Places
* Ensign, Alberta, Alberta, Canada
* Ensign, Ka ...
in the
47th Regiment of Foot on 14 March 1774.
He served as
aide-de-camp to
General Guy Carleton in
Quebec
Quebec is Canada's List of Canadian provinces and territories by area, largest province by area. Located in Central Canada, the province shares borders with the provinces of Ontario to the west, Newfoundland and Labrador to the northeast, ...
, where they made preparations to resist a
planned invasion by
American forces. In October 1775 he departed for London carrying dispatches, missing the
Battle of Quebec that took place at the end of the year where Carleton successfully defended the city.
Back in Britain, under strong family pressure, Pitt resigned his commission in early 1776 in protest against the war with America, to which his father was vehemently opposed.
He became effective head of the family due to his father's ill health, and took an increasing interest in politics. It was rumoured, at one point, that he might stand for Parliament for
Westminster
Westminster is the main settlement of the City of Westminster in Central London, Central London, England. It extends from the River Thames to Oxford Street and has many famous landmarks, including the Palace of Westminster, Buckingham Palace, ...
.
He only returned to the army in March 1778, this time as a lieutenant in the
39th Foot.
France had entered the
American War of Independence the previous month, meaning that he was now able to serve without fighting against the Americans. He was due to sail to
Gibraltar
Gibraltar ( , ) is a British Overseas Territories, British Overseas Territory and British overseas cities, city located at the southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula, on the Bay of Gibraltar, near the exit of the Mediterranean Sea into the A ...
as aide-de-camp to the lieutenant governor,
Colonel Robert Boyd. On 7 April he and his younger brothers were in attendance when their father rose in the
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the lower house, the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster in London, England. One of the oldest ext ...
to give a speech, in which he called for defiance against the French. Shortly after finishing his speech, their father collapsed and died a few weeks later. In
John Singleton Copley
John Singleton Copley (July 3, 1738 – September 9, 1815) was an Anglo-American painter, active in both colonial America and England. He was believed to be born in Boston, Province of Massachusetts Bay, to Richard and Mary Singleton Copley ...
's painting ''
The Death of the Earl of Chatham'', Pitt is portrayed in military uniform at his father's side. His father's last words at Hayes were reputedly "Leave your dying father, and go to the defence of your country".
Having succeeded to the Earldom, Chatham spent the following year in Gibraltar before transferring to the
West Indies
The West Indies is an island subregion of the Americas, surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, which comprises 13 independent island country, island countries and 19 dependent territory, dependencies in thr ...
with a newly raised regiment, the
86th Foot. By the end of 1781 he was back in Britain and in 1782 obtained a
Captaincy
A captaincy ( , , ) is a historical administrative division of the former Spanish colonies, Spanish and Portuguese colonies, Portuguese colonial empires. It was instituted as a method of organization, directly associated with the home-rule admin ...
in the London-based
3rd Regiment of Foot Guards. Although he was appointed
colonel
Colonel ( ; abbreviated as Col., Col, or COL) is a senior military Officer (armed forces), officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations.
In the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, a colon ...
in October 1793 and
major general in February 1795, Chatham does not appear to have undertaken any military duties for nearly fifteen years after the end of the
War of American Independence in 1783.
Political career
Member of Parliament

For much of the 1780s and 1790s Chatham focused on a political career. As heir to his father, he was poised to be a natural leader of his political supporters, the Chathamites. However, during the years that Chatham had devoted to his military career these followers were led by
Lord Shelburne
William Petty Fitzmaurice, 1st Marquess of Lansdowne (2 May 17377 May 1805), known as the Earl of Shelburne between 1761 and 1784, by which title he is generally known to history, was an Anglo-Irish Whig statesman who was the first home secr ...
and then, increasingly, by Chatham's younger brother. Known as
William Pitt the Younger
William Pitt (28 May 1759 – 23 January 1806) was a British statesman who served as the last prime minister of Kingdom of Great Britain, Great Britain from 1783 until the Acts of Union 1800, and then first Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, p ...
, to distinguish him from his father, he had entered Parliament in 1781 and the following year became
Chancellor of the Exchequer
The chancellor of the exchequer, often abbreviated to chancellor, is a senior minister of the Crown within the Government of the United Kingdom, and the head of HM Treasury, His Majesty's Treasury. As one of the four Great Offices of State, t ...
. By the time Chatham returned permanently to Britain, his brother was already the dominant political figure in the family. Their youngest brother James, a
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy (RN) is the naval warfare force of the United Kingdom. It is a component of His Majesty's Naval Service, and its officers hold their commissions from the King of the United Kingdom, King. Although warships were used by Kingdom ...
officer, died from fever in
Antigua
Antigua ( ; ), also known as Waladli or Wadadli by the local population, is an island in the Lesser Antilles. It is one of the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean region and the most populous island of the country of Antigua and Barbuda. Antigua ...
in 1780.
Already Chatham was struggling with debt, despite his inheritance, due both to his own overspending and the poor state their father had left the family finances in. Chatham often
gambled and became involved in
horsebreeding and
racing
In sports, racing is a competition of speed, in which competitors try to complete a given task in the shortest amount of time. Typically this involves traversing some distance, but it can be any other task involving speed to reach a specific g ...
, which turned into expensive pursuits for him. In July 1783, he married
Mary, the second daughter of
Thomas Townshend who had been a political ally of his father. It was a love match, rather than an
arranged marriage
Arranged marriage is a type of Marriage, marital union where the bride and groom are primarily selected by individuals other than the couple themselves, particularly by family members such as the parents. In some cultures, a professional matchmaki ...
. Mary was known as attractive and very fashionable in
society
A society () is a group of individuals involved in persistent social interaction or a large social group sharing the same spatial or social territory, typically subject to the same political authority and dominant cultural expectations. ...
, although she was to suffer from physical and
mental illness
A mental disorder, also referred to as a mental illness, a mental health condition, or a psychiatric disability, is a behavioral or mental pattern that causes significant distress or impairment of personal functioning. A mental disorder is ...
throughout their marriage.
Chatham joined with Pitt and Shelburne to oppose the
Fox–North coalition of 1783 but generally kept a low profile during these years. Pitt became prime minister in December 1783. Chatham supported his brother in the Lords but did not take office. In February 1784 on the way back from an event in the
City of London
The City of London, also known as ''the City'', is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county and Districts of England, local government district with City status in the United Kingdom, city status in England. It is the Old town, his ...
, the brothers were attacked by a mob likely organised by supporters of their rival
Charles James Fox
Charles James Fox (24 January 1749 – 13 September 1806), styled ''The Honourable'' from 1762, was a British British Whig Party, Whig politician and statesman whose parliamentary career spanned 38 years of the late 18th and early 19th centurie ...
. In the subsequent
1784 general election Pitt won a decisive victory, securing his government's future. Due to his wife's severe illness, Chatham did not consider himself able to join his brother's government for the next few years, despite rumours linking him to various posts.
First Lord of the Admiralty
In July 1788 William offered Chatham the cabinet post of
First Lord of the Admiralty. 'I have had my doubts whether the public may not think this too much like monopoly,' Pitt confessed, 'but that doubt is not sufficient to counterbalance the personal comfort which will result from it and the general advantage to the whole of our system'.
Pitt's cousin,
William Wyndham Grenville, explained the reason for the appointment in more detail: Chatham would connect 'the department of the Admiralty with the rest of the administration, which has never yet been the case under Pitt's government, even in the smallest degree'.
In 1790, Chatham oversaw the
mobilisation of the navy during the
Nookta Sound Crisis with Spain. In gratitude for the successful resolution of the crisis in Britain's favour,
George III
George III (George William Frederick; 4 June 173829 January 1820) was King of Great Britain and King of Ireland, Ireland from 25 October 1760 until his death in 1820. The Acts of Union 1800 unified Kingdom of Great Britain, Great Britain and ...
wanted to award the
Order of the Garter
The Most Noble Order of the Garter is an order of chivalry founded by Edward III of England in 1348. The most senior order of knighthood in the Orders, decorations, and medals of the United Kingdom, British honours system, it is outranked in ...
to the Prime Minister. Pitt declined the offer but suggested it be awarded to his brother instead. Chatham accepted the honour, and was immensely proud of it, incorporating the image into the design of his
crest, which featured on his
carriage
A carriage is a two- or four-wheeled horse-drawn vehicle for passengers. In Europe they were a common mode of transport for the wealthy during the Roman Empire, and then again from around 1600 until they were replaced by the motor car around 1 ...
and
cutlery.
Generally, Chatham's tenure as First Lord of the Admiralty was not especially distinguished. Important reforms were shelved and Chatham soon acquired a reputation for disorganisation and laziness. Contemporaries noted 'the inconvenience attending his in bed till the day is advanced, as officers &c were kept waiting'.
During the
first major campaign of the
French Revolutionary Wars
The French Revolutionary Wars () were a series of sweeping military conflicts resulting from the French Revolution that lasted from 1792 until 1802. They pitted French First Republic, France against Kingdom of Great Britain, Great Britain, Habsb ...
Chatham's Admiralty was blamed in part for the failure of the
Siege of Dunkirk in 1793. Due to miscommunication between the Board of Ordnance and the Admiralty, the ships carrying siege weaponry and supplies for the besieging forces arrived two weeks late. Although in this instance Chatham does not seem to have been guilty of any neglect, his reputation was fatally compromised. A further disappointment took place during the
Siege of Toulon
The siege of Toulon (29 August – 19 December 1793) was a military engagement that took place during the Federalist revolts and the War of the First Coalition, part of the French Revolutionary Wars. It was undertaken by forces of the French Re ...
, in which the Allies suffered a defeat. It was around this time that he earned his nickname of 'the late Lord Chatham' due to his unpunctuality.
The Admiralty was also criticised in the national press for the failure of the Royal Navy to engage in a major fleet engagement against the French during the opening months of the war until the
Glorious First of June in 1794. Even this was an ambivalent victory for Chatham, as the victorious British had been unable to prevent a major
convoy
A convoy is a group of vehicles, typically motor vehicles or ships, traveling together for mutual support and protection. Often, a convoy is organized with armed defensive support and can help maintain cohesion within a unit. It may also be used ...
arriving in France from West Indies, undermining the blockade. Chatham had grown increasingly frustrated by the interference at the Admiralty by colleagues, particularly
Henry Dundas.
Demotion

Chatham had become a magnet for criticism of the government, something which his relationship to the Prime Minister did not help. After a further disagreement between Chatham and Dundas, Pitt was forced to choose between them. Dundas has become a trusted ally and advisor, and the Prime Minister chose to back him rather than his brother. In December 1794 Pitt finally responded to pressure and moved his brother to the less responsible post of
Lord Privy Seal
The Lord Privy Seal (or, more formally, the Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal) is the fifth of the Great Officers of State (United Kingdom), Great Officers of State in the United Kingdom, ranking beneath the Lord President of the Council and abov ...
. He chose to demote Chatham by letter rather than in person as this "must be unnecessarily distressing to us both". Chatham was furious about his dismissal and demanded to see Pitt in person, which eventually the Prime Minister reluctantly agreed to. Their meeting was not productive and Chatham considered refusing his new office, shattering the image of unity in the cabinet that Pitt wanted to project. Eventually, Pitt persuaded the King to make the offer directly which Chatham reluctantly accepted. He believed that it would be thought that he had been removed from the Admiralty because the government had no confidence in his management of it. He was replaced by
Lord Spencer. As he feared, almost immediately the opposition did launch attacks in the Commons on his alleged mismanagement.
After losing the Admiralty, Chatham's relationship with his brother never fully recovered. Two years later Chatham was promoted to
Lord President of the Council
The Lord President of the Council is the presiding officer of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom and the fourth of the Great Officers of State, ranking below the Lord High Treasurer but above the Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal. The Lor ...
. Although he was tempted to reject the offer, he accepted what was intended as an
olive branch by Pitt. The two publicly reconciled and Chatham visited Pitt at
Holwood. Nonetheless, there was a lack of the old warmth between them, and Chatham increasingly took an independent line in the cabinet where he had previously been a close supporter of Pitt.
Defence of Britain
Here he stayed, remaining in office after Pitt's resignation under
Henry Addington, until a cabinet reshuffle in June 1801 moved him to the post of
Master-General of the Ordnance
The Master-General of the Ordnance (MGO) was a very senior British military position from 1415 to 2013 (except 1855–1895 and 1939–1958) with some changes to the name, usually held by a serving general. The Master-General of the Ordnance was ...
. He continued in this post until May 1810, with only a short interval out of office in 1806–1807. He became the General Officer in Command of the
Eastern District in 1806. Following the breakdown of the
Peace of Amiens in 1803, the prospect of a
French invasion of Britain by Napoleon's
Grande Armée
The (; ) was the primary field army of the French Imperial Army (1804–1815), French Imperial Army during the Napoleonic Wars. Commanded by Napoleon, from 1804 to 1808 it won a series of military victories that allowed the First French Empi ...
seemed imminent. Chatham was closely involved in
preparing Britain's defences, particularly at likely landing points along the
south coast of England.
A major defensive innovation of the period was the
Martello tower
Martello towers are small defensive forts that were built across the British Empire during the 19th century, from the time of the French Revolutionary Wars onwards. Most were coastal forts.
They stand up to high (with two floors) and typica ...
, which British troops had first encountered in
Corsica
Corsica ( , , ; ; ) is an island in the Mediterranean Sea and one of the Regions of France, 18 regions of France. It is the List of islands in the Mediterranean#By area, fourth-largest island in the Mediterranean and lies southeast of the Metro ...
.
Later military career

In 1798 Chatham returned to the army. He was appointed to command a brigade in the
Helder campaign in 1799. This was an expedition sent by Britain to the
Batavian Republic
The Batavian Republic (; ) was the Succession of states, successor state to the Dutch Republic, Republic of the Seven United Netherlands. It was proclaimed on 19 January 1795 after the Batavian Revolution and ended on 5 June 1806, with the acce ...
, one of several attempts by Britain to liberate the
Low Countries
The Low Countries (; ), historically also known as the Netherlands (), is a coastal lowland region in Northwestern Europe forming the lower Drainage basin, basin of the Rhine–Meuse–Scheldt delta and consisting today of the three modern "Bene ...
during the war. Commanded by the
Duke of York
Duke of York is a title of nobility in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. Since the 15th century, it has, when granted, usually been given to the second son of List of English monarchs, English (later List of British monarchs, British) monarchs ...
, a younger son of the King, the British struggled to co-operate with their
Russian allies and faced unexpectedly heavy French resistance.
He was wounded by a spent ball at the
Battle of Castricum on 6 October.
The Allied forces were evacuated following the
Convention of Alkmaar. After this he served as commander of various military districts, but for some reason was passed over in favour of
Arthur Wellesley for a command in the
Peninsular War
The Peninsular War (1808–1814) was fought in the Iberian Peninsula by Kingdom of Portugal, Portugal, Spain and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, United Kingdom against the invading and occupying forces of the First French ...
.
Walcheren
Campaign
In May 1809 the Secretary of State for War,
Lord Castlereagh, offered Chatham the command of an amphibious assault aimed at destroying the French fleet and fortifications around Antwerp and the island of
Walcheren
Walcheren () is a region and former island in the Dutch province of Zeeland at the mouth of the Scheldt estuary. It lies between the Eastern Scheldt in the north and the Western Scheldt in the south and is roughly the shape of a rhombus. The two ...
. Chatham commanded the largest expeditionary force Britain had yet fielded in the war.
Despite early success in taking the town of
Flushing, the campaign was an unmitigated disaster. The army made slow headway and the French immediately withdrew their fleet to
Antwerp
Antwerp (; ; ) is a City status in Belgium, city and a Municipalities of Belgium, municipality in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is the capital and largest city of Antwerp Province, and the third-largest city in Belgium by area at , after ...
, a tactic that should have been foreseen by the politicians, admirals and generals planning the campaign from the start. While Chatham quarrelled with the naval commander,
Sir Richard Strachan, as many as 8,000 British troops succumbed to
malaria
Malaria is a Mosquito-borne disease, mosquito-borne infectious disease that affects vertebrates and ''Anopheles'' mosquitoes. Human malaria causes Signs and symptoms, symptoms that typically include fever, Fatigue (medical), fatigue, vomitin ...
and other diseases.
Inquiry
Chatham was recalled in disgrace. His appearance before a parliamentary enquiry did him no favours, particularly when it emerged that he had presented the King with a private memorandum which ought to have gone to the Secretary of State for War first.
Spencer Perceval
Spencer Perceval (1 November 1762 – 11 May 1812) was a British statesman and barrister who was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from October 1809 until his assassination in May 1812. He is the only British prime minister to have been as ...
's government withdrew its support from Chatham and he was forced to resign from the Ordnance in May 1810.
Chatham's political and military reputation was ruined. A poem circulated making fun of his inactivity and the lack of co-operation between the army and navy:
Later life

Chatham did not serve actively again but was promoted to
full General
A general officer is an officer of high rank in the armies, and in some nations' air and space forces, marines or naval infantry.
In some usages, the term "general officer" refers to a rank above colonel."general, adj. and n.". OED Online. ...
in January 1812.
He continued to hold various ceremonial positions such as
Lieutenant Governor of Jersey and
High Steward of Colchester to which he had been appointed back in 1807. He prepared a dossier, outlining a defence of his actions during the Walcheren campaign.
During these years Arthur Wellesley made a great success of the command that Chatham had turned down, leading Allied forces to victory in the
Peninsular War
The Peninsular War (1808–1814) was fought in the Iberian Peninsula by Kingdom of Portugal, Portugal, Spain and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, United Kingdom against the invading and occupying forces of the First French ...
and invading southern France. Rewarded with a
Dukedom, he became Britain's premier military commander and oversaw the Allied victory at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, with Chatham playing no part in any of these campaigns.
Gibraltar
In 1820 he succeeded Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and Strathearn, Duke of Kent as
Governor of Gibraltar.
His predecessor, the father of the future Queen Victoria, had not been on the Rock since a mutiny among his troops in 1803 and a series of acting Governors had performed duties on his behalf. Since 1814 this role had been performed by George Don (British Army officer), Sir George Don. Chatham initially intended to also hold the post in absence, but following political pressure from the opposition he agreed to take personal command in Gibraltar. After a long illness his wife died in May 1821, and he finally sailed for the Mediterranean that October.
It was more than forty years since Chatham had last visited Gibraltar as a junior officer. During that time it had survived a Great Siege of Gibraltar, major Franco-Spanish siege and the civilian population had grown rapidly to over 13,000 living alongside a 4,000-strong garrison. Sir George Don, who had been acting command of the garrison for seven years, continued to serve as lieutenant governor under Chatham, and the two men enjoyed a good relationship. He took over his post at a time when neighbouring Spain was undergoing severe turbulence as Ferdinand VII of Spain, Ferdinand VII was challenged by Trienio Liberal, Spanish Liberal opponents.
He died at his house in Charles Street, London, on 24 September 1835, aged 78.
Family
Chatham married The Hon. Mary Elizabeth Townshend, daughter of the Thomas Townshend, 1st Viscount Sydney, 1st Baron Sydney, on 10 July 1783.
The couple had one child, Samuel Pitt. Lady Chatham died on 21 May 1821.
[Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, volume IX (April–August 1821), p. 364.] Chatham did not remarry and on his death the Earldom of Chatham became extinct.
Legacy
John Pitt was the namesake of Lord Chatham Island in the Galapagos Islands, Galapagos, now San Cristobal. The name was bestowed by James Colnett, Captain James Colnett in 1793 while Pitt was still first lord of the Admiralty.
References
Citations
Bibliography
* .
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chatham, John Pitt, 2nd Earl Of
1756 births
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Children of prime ministers of Great Britain
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Earls in the Peerage of Great Britain
Knights of the Garter
Lord Presidents of the Council
Lords Privy Seal
British Army generals
Lords of the Admiralty
Governors of Jersey
Governors of Gibraltar
Burials at Westminster Abbey
Scots Guards officers
Pitt family, John