John Windus facts for kids
John Windus was a British diplomat who traveled to Morocco in the 1720s. He wrote a very important book about his journey and what he saw there. This book helped people in England learn more about Morocco, a country that was not well-known to many Europeans at the time.
Contents
John Windus: An Ambassador's Journey
A Diplomatic Mission to Morocco
In 1720, John Windus joined a special trip to Morocco. He went with a naval leader named Commodore Charles Stewart. Commodore Stewart was in charge of a small group of navy ships. He also had the power to make important decisions for his country, like a top diplomat.
They left England on September 24, 1720. Their first stop was a city called Tetuan in Morocco. There, they met with a local ruler named Basha Hamet Ben Ali Ben Abdallah.
Signing a Peace Treaty
The main goal of their trip was to make peace. In January 1721, they signed a peace agreement in a city called Ceuta. This agreement was very important. Under the treaty, the Moroccan leaders promised to stop pirates from attacking English ships. They also agreed to set free any English people who had been captured.
After signing the treaty, Windus and Stewart traveled to Meknes. This was where the King of Morocco, Ismail Ibn Sharif, lived. They met with the King to confirm an old friendship agreement between England and Morocco. This agreement was known as the Anglo-Moroccan alliance.
Exploring Morocco and Writing a Book
John Windus spent at least seven months traveling around Morocco. He saw many things and learned a lot about the country. When he returned home, he used his experiences to write a book.
His book was called A Journey to Mequinez, the Residence of the Present Emperor of Fez and Morocco, on the Occasion of Commodore Stewart’s Ambassy Thither for the Redemption of the British Captives in the Year 1721. It was published in 1725.
This book was very special because it was only the second book in English ever written about Morocco. It was also the most detailed account of life, society, politics, and the environment in Morocco at that time. Few Christians had visited the country back then, so Windus's book gave people a rare look inside.
His book became very popular and was printed many times. It influenced other writers who wrote about Morocco later. It also provides a valuable historical record of Morocco from the 1720s. The book was even translated into German in 1726 and into Arabic in 1993.
