Thomas Pitt - Icon Profile | Alexandria
Thomas Pitt (1653-1726), known as "Diamond" Pitt, was a British merchant, politician, and colonial administrator who rose from humble origins to become one of the most intriguing figures in early Anglo-Indian relations. His remarkable ascent to prominence was punctuated by the acquisition of what became known as the Pitt Diamond, a 410-carat gem that would later adorn the French Crown Jewels.
First emerging in historical records as an interloper trader in India during the 1670s, Pitt initially challenged the East India Company's monopoly while building a substantial private trading network. His early activities in Balasore and Madras (now Chennai) were marked by both controversy and remarkable success, reflecting the complex nature of European commercial expansion in South Asia. Contemporary accounts, including Company correspondence from 1683, reveal both admiration for his business acumen and concern over his bold circumvention of established trading protocols.
Pitt's career trajectory took a dramatic turn when he was appointed Governor of Madras (1698-1709), transforming from company adversary to administrator. During this period, he acquired the legendary Pitt Diamond in 1701, a transaction shrouded in mystery and conflicting narratives. The gem's purchase from an Indian merchant for approximately £20,000 sparked rumors and accusations about its provenance, though Pitt maintained its legitimate acquisition. The diamond's subsequent sale to the French Regent Philippe II for £135,000 in 1717 established Pitt's fortune and cemented his place in history.
The legacy of "Diamond" Pitt extends beyond his commercial achievements. As grandfather to William Pitt the Elder and great-grandfather to William Pitt the Younger, he established a political dynasty that would shape British history. His story exemplifies the complex interconnections between private enterprise, colonial administration, and European politics in the early modern period. Modern scholarship continues to examine Pitt's career as a lens through which to understand the personal networks that underpinned British imperial expansion, while the Pitt Diamond, now known as the Regent Diamond, remains a tangible symbol of the intricate relationships between European and Asian societies during the age of commerce.