Editing William Pitt the Younger (section)

===Resignation===
Following the [[Acts of Union 1800]], Pitt sought to inaugurate the new [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland]] by granting concessions to Roman Catholics, who formed a 75% majority of the population in Ireland, by abolishing various political restrictions under which they suffered. The king was strongly opposed to [[Catholic emancipation]]; he argued that to grant additional liberty would violate [[Coronation Oath Act 1688|his coronation oath]], in which he had promised to protect the established [[Church of England]]. Pitt, unable to change the king's strong views, resigned on 16 February 1801 so as to allow [[Henry Addington]], his political friend, to form a new administration.{{sfn|Hague|2005|p=479}} At about the same time, however, the king suffered a renewed bout of madness, with the consequence that Addington could not receive his formal appointment. Though he had resigned, Pitt temporarily continued to discharge his duties; on 18 February 1801, he brought forward the annual budget. Power was transferred from Pitt to Addington on 14 March, when the king recovered.{{sfn|Hague|2005|p=484}}