Abdulla al-Hadj facts for kids

Abdulla al-Hadj (Arabic: عبد الله الحاج; died 1843) was an English pirate. He was known for his activities in the South China Sea. Abdulla said he was born in England. But he was taken to Arabia when he was still young.

While in Arabia, he became a Muslim. He later found a job as a chief advisor to a local ruler, called a Rajah, in a place called Murdu.

A Daring Act of Piracy

Abdulla al-Hadj became famous for capturing a British trading ship. This ship had stopped at Murdu, in northern Borneo. While the ship was loading goods, Abdulla and a partner boarded it. They took over the ship and removed everything valuable from it.

The Rajah of Murdu wanted to avoid trouble. So, he handed Abdulla over to the Honourable East India Company. This company was a powerful British trading group. The Rajah kept the stolen goods for himself. After a trial, Abdulla was sent to prison for life in Bombay, India.

What We Know About Abdulla

A writer named Owen Rutter mentioned a pirate named Haji Abdullah. He appeared in historical records only once, in 1843. This was when he was given to the East India Company in Penang. Penang was then part of the British Straits Settlements. He was handed over by one of the many local princes who controlled small port cities.

Rutter said that Haji Abdullah was captured along the "Pedir coast." He was then given to the "Rajah of Murdu," who turned him over to the British. Most of what we know about Abdulla's life comes from his own words. He shared his story during his trial for piracy. He stated he was born in Canterbury, England. He also said he did not know his birth name. He claimed he was in Jeddah with his father when he was a small boy, and both converted to Islam there.

See also

• Piracy in the Strait of Malacca