Editing William Pitt the Younger (section)

===Member of Parliament===
During the general elections of September 1780, at the age of 21, Pitt contested the [[Cambridge University (UK Parliament constituency)|University of Cambridge seat]], but lost, coming bottom of the poll of the five candidates.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |title=William Pitt, the Younger: Historical importance |author-first1=Arthur C.V.D. |author-last1=Aspinall|encyclopedia=Britannica Online Encyclopedia |url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/462151/William-Pitt-the-Younger/5744/Historical-importance |access-date=23 April 2010}}</ref><ref>Alter 'Pitt' Volume 1 (2024) ''pp''48-9</ref> Pitt had campaigned on his own merit, not as part of any group or with prominent backers. He explained to a friend that 'I do not wish to be thought inlisted [sic] in any party or to call myself anything but the Independent Whig, which in words is hardly a distinction, as every one alike pretends to it.'<ref>Alter 'Pitt' Volume 1 (2024) ''p'' 48</ref> intent on entering Parliament, Pitt secured the patronage of [[James Lowther, 1st Earl of Lonsdale|James Lowther]], later 1st Earl Lowther, with the help of his university friend, [[Charles Manners, 4th Duke of Rutland]]. Lowther effectively controlled the [[pocket borough]] of [[Appleby (UK Parliament constituency)|Appleby]]; a by-election in that constituency sent Pitt to the [[House of Commons of Great Britain|House of Commons]] in January 1781.<ref>{{cite web |website=10 Downing Street – PMs in history |title=William Pitt 'The Younger' 1783–1801 and 1804-6 Tory |url=http://www.number10.gov.uk/output/Page161.asp |access-date=23 April 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080807175552/http://www.number10.gov.uk/output/Page161.asp |archive-date=7 August 2008}}</ref> Pitt's entry into parliament is somewhat ironic as he later railed against the very same [[Rotten and pocket boroughs|pocket and rotten boroughs]] that had given him his seat.{{sfn|Hague|2005|p=89}}

In Parliament, the youthful Pitt cast aside his tendency to be withdrawn in public, emerging as a noted debater right from his [[maiden speech]].{{sfn|Hague|2005|pp=62-65}} Pitt's first speech made a dramatic impression. Sir John Sinclair, member of Parliament for Lostwithiel, thought that Pitt's first speech was never surpassed and ‘rarely equalled by any ever delivered in that assembly.’ When Pitt resumed his seat after finishing speaking there was thunderous applause. Sinclair noted that there was ‘utter astonishment … by an audience accustomed to the most splendid efforts of eloquence.’<ref>Alter 'Pitt' Volume 1 (2024) ''p'' 50</ref> Pitt originally aligned himself with prominent [[Whigs (British political party)|Whigs]] such as [[Charles James Fox]]. With the Whigs, Pitt denounced the continuation of the [[American War of Independence]], as his father strongly had. Instead he proposed that the prime minister, [[Lord North]], make peace with the rebellious American colonies. Pitt also supported parliamentary reform measures, including a proposal that would have checked electoral corruption. He renewed his friendship with William Wilberforce, now [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|MP]] for [[Kingston upon Hull|Hull]], with whom he frequently met in the gallery of the House of Commons.{{sfn|Hague|2005|p=71}}