William Hague delivers anniversary lecture

William Hague spoke about the life of Britain’s youngest Prime Minister, William Pitt the Younger, in the appropriate setting of the Pitt Building in Trumpington Street, commissioned in 1833 in Pitt’s honour, and the University Press’s home for over a hundred years.

Hague’s biography of Pitt was published in 2005 to critical acclaim and his lecture not only helped the Press to mark its special year but also took place on the 250th anniversary of the birth of Pitt on 28 May 1759.

Pitt attended Cambridge University as something of a child prodigy. He was admitted to Pembroke College at the age of 14 and went on to become Britain’s youngest ever Prime Minister at the age of 24. He steered the country through several crises of the age, including the effects of the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars.

William Hague was also an early starter in politics, giving his first major political address in 1977 at age 16. The parallels between the two men do not end there: Hague became the Tory party leader at age 36, the youngest since Pitt, and he also shares with Pitt a reputation for excellent speaking and debating skills.

The Hague lecture is one of several events being held by the University Press to mark 425 years since the printing, in 1584, of the first book in Cambridge by a University Printer. 2009 also sees the 800th anniversary of the University of Cambridge.

Cambridge University Press Chief Executive, said: “It is a very special year in Cambridge with these twin anniversaries celebrating the books, people, ideas and achievements that have emerged from this shared history and which continue to inspire and transform the world.

“It is also the 250th anniversary of Pitt’s birth and, as our building in Trumpington Street is named for him and is a close neighbour of Pembroke College, it seemed the ideal time and place to remember his life and work. We are delighted to have had such a renowned Pitt expert as William Hague to join us in honouring William Pitt.”