William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham PC (often called Pitt the Elder, 15 November 1708 – 11 May 1778) was a British statesman who achieved his greatest fame as Secretary of State during the Seven Years' War, and who was later Prime Minister of Great Britain . As Secretary of State, Pitt was arguably as important to British government as Thomas Pelham-Holles, 1st Duke of Newcastle, the Prime Minister. Pitt was the architect of the winning British strategy of financial support of Prussia, thereby tying French resources down in Europe, allowing Britain to achieve victory in North America.