The First Earl of Chatham was William Pitt, a British statesman who served as Prime Minister of Great Britain from 1766 to 1768 and again from 1783 to 1801. He was known for his strong leadership during the Seven Years' War and for his efforts to abolish the slave trade. Pitt was also an advocate of parliamentary reform and a proponent of free trade. He is remembered as one of the most influential figures in British history.