William Pitt the Younger

William Pitt the Younger signed warrant dated 18^th July 1788 addressed to ‘Our very loving friends the Commissioners of Majesty's Customs in Scotland’. The warrant appoints James Rannie as Cooper at the Port of Leith with a £24 salary. Countersigned by two Members of Parliament and Lord Commissioners James Graham & Edward James Eliot.

This warrant is 235 years old & remains in excellent condition. Signatures of early Prime Ministers have really held their value over the last decade, with Pitt the Younger always generating much interest when offered on the market.

William Pitt the Younger (1759-1806) became the youngest ever Prime Minister in 1783 at the age of only 24. He remained in office until 1801 before serving a second term between 1804 and 1806. His governments were dominated by major European conflicts including the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars, with his leadership a decisive factor behind Britain's eventual success. Pitt is remembered as an outstanding administrator who greatly improved government efficiency and stamped out corruption, earning him the nickname 'Honest Billy'.