Real Pirates of the Caribbean: Henry Morgan

Sir Henry Morgan (born January 24 in 1637 in Wales - died on 23 August 1688 in Jamaica), was a privateer who often tasted piracy, he was a pirate or buccaneer who often accepted missions as a privateer. Violent and ruthless, he led a life of a bandit, stealing and killing but its his bold expeditions, most of which took place on land, which made him one of the most respected captains in the Caribbean. He saw the boats as an effective means of transport, but not as a valuable weapon. He knew in fact many shipwrecks due to his lack of talent as a master. Despite his cruelty, he was knighted at the end of his life.

Henry Morgan was the eldest son of Robert Morgan, a squire of Llanrhymny in Glamorganshire (Wales).

A legend tells that he was kidnapped child in Bristol and sold as slaves in Barbados, and then he would have managed to reach Jamaica. English historians believe he would have rather been Captain Morgan who accompanied the expedition of John Morris and Jackman who captured the Spanish colonies of Vildemos, Trujillo and Granada. In 1666, Morgan commanded a ship of the expedition, Edward Mansfield, which captured the island of New Providence and Santa Catalina (near Panama). When Mansfield was captured and killed by the Spanish some time later, Morgan was chosen by the buccaneers to be their admiral.

It was unclear, however, how a young man with no experience could get the command of a vessel for such an expedition. Another source, this one French (Stories Flibuste and the Caribbean seas George Fronval) indicates that the young Henry Morgan had hired as simple foam England. Arrived in Barbados, he deserted and wandered into the island, which is in turn vagrant, begging and even brigand. It would then be sought and pursued. It is to escape the gallows that would have left in Jamaica, where he would join English buccaneers. Skillful play, he would have expanded quickly and bought a small ship. With several colleagues, they would have made an expedition to the coast of Campeche and would be back with a valuable loot. Morgan, being aware of his lack of experience, would have offered his services to Edward Mansfield, an old corsair, who died in 1668. At this level, the two versions come together, with some differences in the motivations of the privateer. Contrary to what is written below, it has not always been on the orders of the governor of Jamaica. One may think that the English historians wanted to legitimize the actions of Morgan giving them a degree of respectability because he was knighted at the end of his life, but it is much more likely than all his fellows is First, the greed that determined his actions.

Works Cited:

Cordingley, David (1995). Life Among the Pirates. London: Abacus.

Pope, Dudley Harry Morgan's Way: The Biography of Sir Henry Morgan.

Stephan Talty's Empire of Blue Water: Henry Morgan and the Pirates Who Rules the Caribbean Waves