PITT, George (1721-1803), of Strathfieldsaye, Hants.

George Pitt entered Parliament at a by-election soon after returning from his grand tour.1Walpole to Mann, 24 June 1742. A Tory, he voted with the Opposition on the Hanoverians in 1742, 1744 and 1746. Two months before the dissolution that year Lord Ilchester wrote: ‘If [Pitt] does stand [at Shaftesbury] it will be, I suppose, upon that interest which is called Lord Shaftesbury’s.’ He appears, however, to have stood chiefly on his own interest, as he did not obtain Lord Shaftesbury’s formal support till 10 June.2Ilchester to Hen. Fox, Apr. 1747, Fox mss; see SHAFTESBURY. Returned both for Shaftesbury and Dorset, he opted to serve for the county, where he was unopposed. In the 2nd Lord Egmont’s electoral survey c.1749-50, Pitt is described as ‘not proper’, i.e. unsuitable for the Prince. He died 7 May 1803.