Moses Pitt

Moses Pitt (c1639 - 1697) was a bookseller and printer notable for the production of his Atlas of the world; a project that was supported by the Royal Society and in particular Christopher Wren.

He originated from Cornwall and commenced publishing in 1667 from his base in Little Britain, London. His work was characterised by its learned content and included authors such as Robert Boyle and Gilbert Burnet.

His Atlas was initially intended to be 12 volumes and he continued to undertake other work for the Royal Society. However rising costs, estimated by Pitt at £1000 per volume, contributed to his eventual bankruptcy and only 4 volumes were ever produced.

In Ireland William Molyneux collaborated with Roderic O'Flaherty to collect material for the Atlas. While Pitt's financial crisis lead to cancellation of the project, much valuable work on early Irish history was collected. Molyneux and O'Flaherty struck a friendship and Molyneux assisted when the latter's treatise Ogygia was published in London in 1685.

Pitt would remain prisoner for debt in Fleet Prison and subsequently King's Bench Prison for 7 years.

In 1691 he published The Cry of the Oppressed, a moving appeal on behalf of himself and all prisoners for debt across the nation.