Name Index

To

Joseph Pitts of Exeter (?1633 to ?1739)

Trans. Devon. Assoc. vol.  52, (1920), pp. 223-238.

by

Miss Cecily Radford

Prepared by Michael Steer

The paper was read at its July 21st, 1920 Totnes meeting. Born in Exeter circa 1662, Joseph Pitts was captured by Algerian pirates on his first voyage in 1678. He was sold as a slave in Algiers and underwent forced conversion to Islam. Sold again, he accompanied his third master on pilgrimage to Mecca, so becoming the first Englishman known to have visited the Muslim Holy Sites. He has been called “England’s first orientalist”. His 1731 book is, therefore, the first recorded Hajj pilgrimage made by an Englishman.  It also greatly added to Western knowledge of Islam and life in the Muslim world. The paper, which is also presented in full on the Association’s website at: https://devonassoc.org.uk/devoninfo/joseph-pitts-of-exeter-1663-1739-1920/ is from a copy of a rare and much sought-after journal that can be downloaded from the Internet Archive. Google has sponsored the digitisation of books from several libraries. These books, on which copyright has expired, are available for free educational and research use, both as individual books and as full collections to aid researchers.