A Lecture on Pyrates

Now on Henry Morgan!



Henry Morgan was Welshman who would be an Admiral of the feared pirate coalition Brethren of the Coast. He would also be Lieutenant-Governor of Jamaica.

In his career, he would sack many prosperous Spanish cities, including Cartagena, Puerto Bello, Macraibo, and grandest of all Panama.

His actual birth is still unclear to history, but it was at about 1635. He left school early, claiming he was better at using the pike than the book. In 1655, he participated in the failed Siege of Santo Domingo. However, the English forces soon took Jamaica after. Jamaica, with its capital Port Royal would soon be a haven for privateers.



From Jamaica, he participated as a captain in Christoper Myngs' legendary Sack of Campeche, a heavily fortified Spanish port at that time. Sir Thomas Modyford, the governor of Jamaica, still gave Morgan letters of marque and comissions contrary to the king's wishes. He became the Vice-Admiral in an expedition to take Providence island. It was successful initially but after a Spanish counterattack the pirates retreated and their Admiral was shot.

For this, the Spanish threathed to attack Jamaica. Morgan was entrustes to gain intelligence of this, and it was his first time as Admiral of 10 ships. He thought that Havana, the main objective was too risky, so he sacked Puerto Principe. He did not get much loot from it, and thus must get more gold. It was to be the city of Puerto Bello where he would get his wish.

There were problems early on, due to feuds between the French and English crew, but with Morgan's charm and skill the issue was resolved and Morgan went to attack Puerto Bello with his original fleet.



Morgan recruiting for the attack.

Puerto Bello was heavily fortified, as it was the third most important port in the Spanish Main. Sir William Parker once took the port in 1601, but he faced better odds than Morgan. Still, in 1668 Henry Morgan was tl repeat that fleet.

Morgan didn't attack Puerto Bello head on; instead, he put his men on boats across the river to Puerto Bello. He was able to surprise the Spanish, taking a fort easily. However, he was bogged down in the second fort. He scaled ladders to the fort and won despite heavy casualties. The Spanish, disheartned of the fighting, surrendered the last port. Spain sent a fleet to retake Puerto Bello, but Morgan ambushed such fleet and thus secured Puerto Bello. He made his way with the city for two whole months.



When the Governor of Panama sent a message asking on how he took Puerto Bello despite the odds, he sent a pistol to Panama and swore that he'd take it back. With the English, he was made Commander-in-chief of all the ships of war in Jamaica, essentially an Admiral. He was also given the new ship HMS Oxford.

In January 1669, in conjuction with 900 other pirates, Morgan planned to attack Cartagena, another important Spanish port. However, the Oxford blew up when the pirates celebrated this, Morgan losing 100 men. Still, he resolved to attack Cartagena. He added a 36-gun French ship into his fleet by framing those Frenchmen.

However, the fleet was depleted when they reached Cartagena, so a certain Captain Picard (not kidding about this) suggested an attack on Maracaibo. That Morgan did, and the town of Gibraltar was sacked too. It was done by torture, mainly using the rack, abundant in supply, thus reliving the days of the Spanish Inquisition (nobody certainly expected that).

When exiting Lake Maracaibo, Spanish Admiral Don Alonzo de Campos y Espinosa cornered Morgan aith three warships (bigger than most of Morgan's). He and his privateers had to fight out of this. Morgan used a fireship to destroy one. The other ran aground and the last was captured. He had to deal with a fort though. He done so by faking a land attack, thus diverting the fort's guns.

Morgan returned to Jamaica in May 1669, his flagship being the newly-captured Spanish warship.

In 1670, Morgan embarked upon his most daring raid; one on Panama, the greatest Spanish city at that time. Panama had threathed to invade Jamaica, which was the perfect cause for the raid. With 2,000 men and 36 ships, he sought at Panama.

Henry retook the island of Santa Catalina, then he took the Fort San Lorenzo (it was guarding the Chagres River, the entrance to Panama). After a bloody battle where 150 of his men died, a stroke of luck happened when a gunpowder store went on fire. 300 of the garrison were killed.



Ruins of Fort San Lorenzo

Morgan continued on through the tropical jungle, many of his men contracting diseases. When he reached Panama, the garrison outnumbered his 1,400 buccaneers. He ordered a portion of his buccaneers to wheel. The Spanish thought they were retreating and charged. The pirates were accurate shots and the Spanish were massacred. The flanking detachment also dealt with the Spanish.

However, the Spanish had burned the city and transfered most of its wealth to a treasure galleon. Three-quarters of Panama was burnt. Morgan had missed some relics too, as the priests had painted them plain. He resolved to escape with his most loyal men.


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Ruins of a cathedral in Panama.

Henry would be imprisoned shortly in 1672, then he would be knighted in 1674. He became Lieutenant-Governor of Jamaica one year after. He was replaced in 1681. He died in 1688, fattened with all his riches. His grave sank in the 1692 Port Royal earthquake.

Of all his descendants, there would be a Daniel Morgan who would destroy the force of Banastre Tarleton in the Battle of Cowpens. He would also inspire a brand of rum.

Next, Gráinne O'Malley!

After O'Malley. But Avery seems quite a good choice, quite successful a pirate.