Sir Henry Morgan

Captain Henry Morgan who lived from (1635-1688) was a legendary Welsh Privateer who raided towns towns and shipping in the 1660's and 1670's. Although there are many myths and truths about Sir Morgan, he is known as one of the bravest pirates of his time. One of Henry Morgan's best accomplishments of his time was the capture of Panama.

At this time Panama was the Capital of the Spanish settlement in the new world. It was the greatest mart for silver and gold in the whole world. Therefore in August of 1670, Morgan set sail with thirty six ships and over two thousand men in hopes of capturing the city.

Morgan had been on a contract to become a privateer from the English. This meaning he was sailing the sea with permission from the government which is the king. Nevertheless this permission was to steal ships from other countries which this case being the Spanish.

When Morgan and his men was about to enter the city, there were Spanish forces there that put a resistance. Panama had Morgan and his men outnumbered in number due to population, but Morgan and his men had much better weapons and much more experience in battle to still take them down.

Morgan's Men now charged at the fleeing army, hacking and slashing their way across the plain. By mid morning some five hundred men lay dead or wounded under the tropical sun. The Buccaneers lost only fifteen men in action.

Meanwhile, during this raid ,the privateers are looting the place and small islands where there were many treasures. The treasure wasn't as big as people hoped for but there was quite bit of plunder and every man received his share. Many of the common soldiers were disappointed with their shares and blamed Morgan for cheating them. Among the people who blamed Morgan for their shares and other gruesome things was the ships Surgeon Alexandre Exquemelin.

Although we may think of Henry Morgan as one of the bravest privateers ever there are also horrible things he did. As Exquemelin was the one who recorded first hand of the things Morgan did, and he painted him as a cruel and unscrupulous person. Nevertheless after the peace treaty between England and Spain took place, the pillaging already started which led Morgan to be arrested and sent back to England.

 However that peace was broken again which eventually led Morgan to being set free and given a Knighthood by King Charles 2. In a nut shell, it appeared as Morgan invaded Panama as this brave soldier but everything he did wasn't pleasing and done in everyone's favor.



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