SIR HENRY MORGAN

Sir Henry Morgan lived from 1635 to 1688. He was famous in the Caribbean and was one of England’s most notorious and successful privateers. Today, there are many things around that represent Sir Henry Morgan like Captain Morgan’s spiced rum, books written by Ian Fleming and John Steinbeck, and songs have also mentioned Sir Henry Morgan.

In 1665, Sir Henry Morgan commanded a privateer ship seizing the islands of Providence and Santa Catalina. Morgan’s leader, Edward Mansfields was captured and killed shortly after and the buccaneers chose Sir Henry Morgan as their leader.

In 1667, Morgan attacked Puerto Principe and the town of Portobello, Panama and captured some prisoners who could give him information on a threatened attack on Jamaica. He ravaged the coast of Cuba, Maracaibo, Venezuela; he destroyed ships in the Caribbean and found a large treasure. Sir Henry Morgan was responsible for the most barbaric and brutal attack ever perpetrated by a British pirate against Spanish colonies in America when he looted and stole over a hundred thousand pounds and then had his men burn the city and massacres all of the inhabitants. This sack in Panama violated the peace treaty between England and Spain, which caused him to be arrested in 1672. After proving he knew nothing of the treaty, he was released and later knighted.

Many people called Sir Henry Morgan a pirate because of his violent actions and stealing money, but he swore he was a privateer. Although, he lived as a pirate and was the best pirate and the only pirate that was able to retire from being a pirate.

Sir Henry Morgan died in 1688 from tuberculosis, but back then it was called ‘dropsie’ it is presumed. However, it is really unsure because he drank so much alcohol that others think he might have died from liver failure. He cannot be visited today at his gravesite because of an earthquake; the Palisadoes cemetery sank under the sea.

Sir Henry Morgan was known as one of the bravest and craziest pirates that didn’t fear anything and was successful at all of the raids he was sent on. Because of his heavy love for drinking, Captain Morgan Rum was created and dedicated in memory of him and is still widely drunk today.