The British war effort 1793-1815

• Was far from democratic at this time 
• Politicians often supported overambitious war plans 
• Often appointed men who weren't up for the job. 
• Still proved better than Napoleon's dictatorship 

William Pitt the Younger: 

• Successful peacetime prime minister 
• Restored Britain's finances after American War of Independence 
• Able but not inspiring
• His government was influential in creating the First Coalition (1793) - Britain, Austria, Prussia, Netherlands, Spain and Sardinia --> United against revolutionary France. 
• British subsidies held alliance together  
• Second Coalition (1799-1801) 
• Both collapsed due to French military success 
• Whig Party critical of Pitt's government --> Many Whigs favoured appeasing France and making peace

Henry Addington: 

• 1801 - Pitt resigned over King Geroge's opposition to his measure to relax rules of Catholics being excluded from the armed forces 
• Addington formed a new gov --> none of Pitt's friends would be involved 
• Addington made peace with France at Amiens in March 1802 
• Hardly an achievement
• When war recommenced in May 1803 --> Pitt in opposition 
• Addington fell from power in May 1804

William Pitt part 2

• Returned as PM 
• Formed the Third Coalition - Austria and Russia in 1805
• Henry Dundas = Lord Melville --> First Lord of the Admiralty 
• Reversed St Vincents policies 
• Contacts were renewed and private contractors were employed to repair and build ships 
• Melville's reputation ruined by a monetary scandal in 1805 --> forced to resign 
• Jan 1806 - Pitt died (age 46 of excursions) 

• Grenville allied with Charles James Fox (Whig leader) formed new government 
• 1806
• Grenville wanted a ministry that would comprehend all the talents and character in public life 
• Efforts to make peace with Napoleon came to nothing 
• 1807 - Grenville revived Pitts 1801 initiative to stop the exclusion of Catholics from armed services - the King wouldn't agree and Grenville resigned 

• Tory government 
• Lead by 70-year old Duke Of Portland
• Was sick and inefficient 
• Had little control over his cabinet 
• Had a strong team though 
• However, his team wasn't united 
• Two of his men had to resign their posts after a duel between them. 
• Died in 1809

• Replaced Portland 
• Capable leader 
• Kept his nerve during difficult times 
• Ensured that Britain could fund the war 
• Political Situation unstable however as King George III lost his mind in 1810 
• Role of his son (George, Prince Regent) was formalised in 1811 --> He should do nothing irreversible for a year 
• Was assumed that he would side with the Whigs
• However, as Whigs were divided, he changed his loyalties 
• 1812, he back the Tories
• Assassinated in 1812

• Old secretary of state for war 
• He was prudent, discreet and trusted and stayed in power until his death in 1827