the notorious pirate patriarch
One of the most treacherous and profitable privateers that lurked the Caribbean seas, went by the name of Captain Henry Morgan (the guy from the rum bottles, or known as Captain Mo’s according to Scotty and Mike). Captain Morgan was actually a privateer as were the whole lot of them, until them were decommissioned by the British, where they were demoted to pirates.
Henry Morgan’s was no ordinary man; his uncle Edward Morgan, also Welsh, was one of the first Governors of Jamaica. Unsuspectingly, the world’s most notorious pirate came from privileged heritage. By the time he was a grown man, Captain Morgan was commissioned by the British Colonial Government in Jamaica to set sail to Haiti and Panama in a calculated move to solidify British control in the Caribbean.
Following the completion of his mission, Captain Morgan went beyond his mandate and plundered Port-au-Prince, Haiti. He then went on to ransack Portobello, Panama, infuriating the Panamanian Governor. He returned to Port Royal, the contemporary Jamaican capital, to celebrate his victories.
At this time, the British sent the Port Royal HMS Oxford as a gift to protect Port Royal (the Harbour in Kingston Jamaica). Port Royal gave it to Captain Morgan to further his privateering missions. Captain Morgan nearly died when his crew unintentionally blew up the new HMS Oxford from Britain while partying, having accidentally lit the ammunition depot. Britain would never hear of it…
Captain Morgan continued his looting in Cuba and Maracaibo (Venezuela), in spite of Spanish threats. The Jamaican British Governor responded to his wicked antics by making him Commander-in-Chief of all Jamaican naval vessels. He was commissioned to destroy all Spanish ships and was expected to bring back 10% of any plundered loot from those Spaniards swimming in gold and riches.
After wreaking havoc on Cuba, he returned to Panama and proceeded in burning the capital, Panama City. This turned out to be a violation of a Peace Treaty signed between Spain and Britain. News traveled back to Spain and then Britain. Captain Morgan was arrested and summoned back to Britain for his antics.
After claiming ignorance of the Treaty, Captain Morgan was Knighted by the Crown and sent back to Jamaica, this time as Lieutenant Governor. Governor Morgan spent the rest of his days as the legitimate ruler of Jamaica. His latest commission from the Crown was to decommission the privateers in the region (the same crews he was originally responsible for). Some turned over their guns, while others ignored the order and spitefully set sail on the seas in search of greater treasure. Arrrrrrr, true pirates indeed!!
Captain Morgan gained a notorious reputation for his drunken rowdiness. He is thought to have died of liver failure, due to his excessive drinking. His grave in the Palisadoes cemetery sunk along with two thirds of the city of Port Royal, in the 1692 earthquake beneath the sea. The sunken city is now one of the most famous underwater cultural heritage sites in the world.
Henry Morgan’s was no ordinary man; his uncle Edward Morgan, also Welsh, was one of the first Governors of Jamaica. Unsuspectingly, the world’s most notorious pirate came from privileged heritage. By the time he was a grown man, Captain Morgan was commissioned by the British Colonial Government in Jamaica to set sail to Haiti and Panama in a calculated move to solidify British control in the Caribbean.
Following the completion of his mission, Captain Morgan went beyond his mandate and plundered Port-au-Prince, Haiti. He then went on to ransack Portobello, Panama, infuriating the Panamanian Governor. He returned to Port Royal, the contemporary Jamaican capital, to celebrate his victories.
At this time, the British sent the Port Royal HMS Oxford as a gift to protect Port Royal (the Harbour in Kingston Jamaica). Port Royal gave it to Captain Morgan to further his privateering missions. Captain Morgan nearly died when his crew unintentionally blew up the new HMS Oxford from Britain while partying, having accidentally lit the ammunition depot. Britain would never hear of it…Captain Morgan continued his looting in Cuba and Maracaibo (Venezuela), in spite of Spanish threats. The Jamaican British Governor responded to his wicked antics by making him Commander-in-Chief of all Jamaican naval vessels. He was commissioned to destroy all Spanish ships and was expected to bring back 10% of any plundered loot from those Spaniards swimming in gold and riches.
After wreaking havoc on Cuba, he returned to Panama and proceeded in burning the capital, Panama City. This turned out to be a violation of a Peace Treaty signed between Spain and Britain. News traveled back to Spain and then Britain. Captain Morgan was arrested and summoned back to Britain for his antics.
After claiming ignorance of the Treaty, Captain Morgan was Knighted by the Crown and sent back to Jamaica, this time as Lieutenant Governor. Governor Morgan spent the rest of his days as the legitimate ruler of Jamaica. His latest commission from the Crown was to decommission the privateers in the region (the same crews he was originally responsible for). Some turned over their guns, while others ignored the order and spitefully set sail on the seas in search of greater treasure. Arrrrrrr, true pirates indeed!!
Captain Morgan gained a notorious reputation for his drunken rowdiness. He is thought to have died of liver failure, due to his excessive drinking. His grave in the Palisadoes cemetery sunk along with two thirds of the city of Port Royal, in the 1692 earthquake beneath the sea. The sunken city is now one of the most famous underwater cultural heritage sites in the world.
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