MDMD(1): Pitt's Anachronism?

[davemarc]

> From: Holger Wenzel <hw at itm.rwth-aachen.de>

> They are named after Pliny (the Elder and Younger) and Pitt (the Elder
> and Younger). But if my notion of their age is right, Pitt the younger
> is only 15 or 16 at the time they were born (Pitt t.Y. born 1759, the
> Twins approximately 1774). I doubt that he and his father are already 
> known as the Elder and the Younger by that time, so the explanation
> for the names of the twins would be somewhat senseless.
> 
> Can someone supply more and more accurate data about this?
> 
I can't give you any citations, but I don't see any reason why prominent
father/son namesakes wouldn't be known from the start that way, as
Elder/Younger.  

davemarc