Henry Morgan the Bad Boy Pirate

Henry Morgan is known has the pirates who invaded Panama; Henry Morgan had his first command as a captain of a privateer ship involved in an attack on Santiago de Cuba. A privateer that was empowered by the British government, or a representative of the government such as the Governor of Jamaica, to raid and attack the Spanish on England’s behalf. Privateers could keep some of their plunder for themselves. So, in a way, privateers could be thought of as ‘legal’ pirates. 

Sir Henry Morgan

After many effective crusades against the Spanish, by 1665 Morgan was already a wealthy man with sugar plantations on Jamaica, becoming a man of some status on the island. His fame was also spreading, particularly after the successful attack on Puerto Bello in Panama in 1666 during which he took the town, held the residents to ransom and then beat off a force of 3000 Morgan's attack on Panama City was successful for several reasons, the most important was the ability of Morgan fight skills over the Spanish Army that defended the city. Morgan victory came in part by maneuver, firepower, protection, and leadership. Morgan was a natural born warrior and his ability to fore see the unanticipated make him and his men almost unstoppable. Even thou they were out gunned, Morgan secure the high ground early when the battle was over; Morgan lost 15 men comparing to the Spanish 500. At the time of Morgan’s incursion on Panama England and Spain had signed a peace treaty revoking privateer permissions in the Caribbean. Because Morgan’s invasion of Panama had taken place after the peace agreement between England and Spain, he was arrested and transported to England but was never punished. However, relations with Spain quickly worsened, and in 1674 King Charles II knighted Morgan and sent him out again as deputy governor of Jamaica, where he lived as a wealthy and respected planter until his death. Captain Morgan is considered one of the greatest pirates ever, even though he was a privateer. He spread terror on the Spanish Main which helped in the treaty negotiation between England and Spain. Certain places are still named for him, such as Morgan's Valley in Jamaica and Morgan's Cave on San Andres island.                  

                                                                   

Stockton, Frank R. Buccaneers and pirates. Mineola, NY: Dover Publications, 2007. Print.

Cordingly, David. The romance and the reality of life among the pirates: the romance and the reality of life among the pirates. Place of publication not identified: Random House, 2006. Print.

http://www.historynet.com/henry-morgan-the-pirate-who-invaded-panama-in-1671.htm

The Golden Age

 

 Christopher Columbus

In their day pirate’s ships were the most elusive and fast souped-up hot rod on the most feared vessel at sea.  Most of these hot rods where stolen. Columbus journey to the new world in 1492 cleared the way for a golden age for piracy. Pirates was the ultimate opportunist and from the 16^th century to the 18^th century no water offer more opportunity than those of the Americans. The Caribbean was the prime hot bed for pirate activity for simple reason that’s where the Spanish found gold from the natives and they start shipping a fleet of their galleons from south America back to Spain so these ships where sitting ducks loaded with all this treasure.

Sir Francis Drake

The most feared pirates did not start out has pirates. Columbus and Sir Francis Drake where mere explores-settlers that saw an opportunity and took it. Drake first attempt at piracy he failed miserable he and his men where sent running when they tried to invade a small town of Nombre de Dios. But over time Drake perfected the Art of piracy and is known in history has of the most notorious pirate of all times. Sir Francis Drake hero to the English and pirate to the Spanish.

Stockton, Frank R. Buccaneers and pirates. Mineola, NY: Dover Publications, 2007. Print.

Cordingly, David. The romance and the reality of life among the pirates: the romance and the reality of life among the pirates. Place of publication not identified: Random House, 2006. Print.

http://www.historynet.com/henry-morgan-the-pirate-who-invaded-panama-in-1671.htm

"Sir Henry Morgan." Sir Henry Morgan. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Jan. 2017.

http://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofWales/Sir-Henry-Morgan/

Pirates

From the very earliest days of history there have been pirates, and it is, therefore, not at all remarkable that, in the early days of the history of this continent, sea-robbers should have made themselves prominent; but the buccaneers of America differed in many ways from those pirates with whom the history of the old world has made us acquainted. (Stockton)

Before proceeding any further, we need to be clear about the difference between piracy and privateering, and the use of the words “corsair” and “buccaneer.”

A pirate was, and is, someone who robs and plunders on the sea. Per the law against piracy which was passed in the reign of King Henry VIII, the term also applied to felonies, robberies, and murders committed in any haven, river, creek, or place where the Lord High Admiral has jurisdiction. (Cordingly)

A Privateer was an armed vessel, or the commander and crew of that vessel, which was licensed to attack and seize the vessels of hostile nation. In a nut shell, they were often no more than licensed pirates. Pirates based in the Mediterranean were called corsairs and Buccaneers were pirates who operated in the Caribbean and around the coast of south America during the seventeenth century.

The original buccaneers were hunters in the woods and valleys of Hispaniola. They were mostly French, and they lived off the herd of cattle and pig. They cooked and dried strips of meat over open stoves like what the Arawak Indians did.  Boucaner (meaning to smoke-dry or cure), which gave these wild and uncouth men their name.  (Cordingly)

Stockton, Frank R. Buccaneers and pirates. Mineola, NY: Dover Publications, 2007. Print.

Cordingly, David. The romance and the reality of life among the pirates: the romance and the reality of life among the pirates. Place of publication not identified: Random House, 2006. Print.