Joseph Chitty

Joseph Chitty (12 March 1776 – 17 February 1841) was an English lawyer and legal writer, author of some of the earliest practitioners' texts and founder of an important dynasty of lawyers.

Life and practice He was himself the son of a Joseph Chitty (1729–1795), and his wife, Sarah (née Cartwright). He initially practised as a special pleader before being called to the bar by the Middle Temple on 28 June 1816. He never became a KC but built a huge junior practice at 1 Pump Court and published many books.

Chitty was also pupil master to a generation of lawyers, including: John Walter Hulme, his co-author and son-in-law, and the first Chief Justice of Hong Kong Thomas Starkie Edward Hall Alderson Thomas Noon Talfourd Henry Havelock.

In fact, at the time, the Inns of Court were in decline and Chitty organised lectures and moots, in 1810 being given permission to use the hall of Lincoln's Inn.

Judge Joseph William Chitty was a grandson (son of Thomas Chitty).