The Right Honble WM PITT Esqr One of His Majesty's principal Secretaries of State And One of His most Honble Privy Council

This enamel plaque was printed by John Sadler of Liverpool. Sadler and his business partner Guy Green are credited with inventing the technique of transfer printing onto ceramic tiles. Sadler and Green were highly successful businessmen and transfer printed creamware for Josiah Wedgwood. The image of Pitt is taken from a mezzotint by Richard Houston after William Hoare's portrait.

William Pitt, popularly known as Pitt the elder, was a leading Whig politician. The Pitt family owed its fortune to William's paternal grandfather Thomas Pitt, who served as the East India Company's governor of Madras. At the time this plaque was produced Pitt was serving as Secretary of State in a coalition government with the Duke of Newcastle. During the Seven Years' War against France, Pitt skillfully balanced military commitments in both the European and North American theatres. After a string of victories the Royal Navy established Britain's supremacy in European waters. British forces also waged successful campaigns against the French in Guadeloupe, Martinique and India. Military victories abroad made Pitt an enormously popular war minister. However, he resigned in 1761 over disagreements with fellow ministers during the peace negotiations with France. Pitt wanted total French capitulation and was prepared to continue the war if necessary. His colleagues favoured offering more moderate peace terms to avoid France forming a tactical alliance with Spain.