Epistemophilia: William Pitt(s)

William Pitt were a father and son team that were big in 18th century Britain politics and both served as Prime Minister. And within two days, I listened to a Matt's History podcast on the father and then saw a Modern Marvels at the gym about his son. So I have one cool anecdote about each. And I'm glad I looked it up because until I did I thought there was just one dude.

Following the French and Indian War (or the Seven Years War according to the Brits), the British government enacted the Stamp Act on the Colonies to pay for it where they were taxed for any paper that changed hands. This rightly pissed them off as there were already other taxes like the Molasses Act and stirred the whole Taxation Without Representation pot that would be a big deal later. In 1766, Pitt the Elder, in the House of Commons at the time, gave a speech in defense of the colonies saying, "I rejoice that America has resisted." He went on to say they were members of the Empire and shouldn't have a special financial burden imposed on them for their defense and they had the same rights as other Englishmen.

Tea originated in China waaay back in a ridiculously high BC year. By the 18th century in England, it was the rage but due to exorbitant taxes it was difficult for most people to get legally. The vast majority of tea in England was drunk illegally. Unfortunately, it had toxic chemicals in it and sometimes even sheep dung (for color.) William Pitt the Younger, then Prime Minister, as one of his first acts in office in 1784 reduced the tax from 119% to 25% with the India Act. It also organized the British East India Company. I'm sure this probably had negative repercussions down the line, like for India. But what I want to point out here is that he appeared to have good intentions and also people in England weren't drinking sheep dung tea anymore.