Who was a British leader who criticized Britain’s treatment of the American colonies?

William Pitt the Elder criticized Britain’s harsh treatment of the American colonies and argued against measures such as the Stamp Act. He supported the colonists’ rights while still hoping they would remain part of the British Empire. George Grenville and Charles Townshend were associated with policies that taxed the colonies, while Benjamin Franklin was an American, not a British leader.

AI-written and checked against the verified answer.