Captain Morgan: Fact v. Fiction

Did you know that Captain Henry Morgan was Lieutenant Governor of Jamaica? This was one of his many titles in his life. People see him as one of the legendary pirates. However, not every story about Captain Morgan is true. For example, in the book, "Buccaneers and Pirates," there are some misconceptions about his childhood and how he grew up. In the story, Frank Stockton explains that "in the late 17th century there was a little baby boy born with a father as a farmer and a mother that churned, and tended the cows and chickens" (Stockton 132). Although, it was never proven what his parents did when he was a child. These statements in the book are used to flare up Captain Morgan's history.

 Nevertheless, most stories about him are factual. Undoubtedly he was one of the most successful pirates of all time. For instance, Captain Morgan's capture of Panama was one of his most notable accomplishments. In August 1670, he sailed 36 ships and nearly 2,000 buccaneers to set out and capture Panama, one of the chief cities of Spain's American empire. He defeated a large Spanish force on January 18, 1671 and entered the city, which burned to the ground while his men were looting it. Morgan and his men left Panama with over 100,000 pounds of stolen goods and treasures before burning Panama City to the ground. Captain Morgan tortured the local citizens until they told him the locations of more treasure. In 1674, the Queen of England knighted Henry Morgan for his service to the crown. When he returned to Jamaica, he became the island's Lieutenant Governor for nine years. 

In addition, in 1667, Morgan was tasked by the governor of Jamaica to capture Spanish prisoners in Cuba to learn details of a possible attack planned on Jamaica. He first voyaged to Cuba and destroyed the town of Puerto Principe with 500 men and 10 ships. This shows how Captain Morgan's legacy came to be.

On the other hand, more exaggeration was used when his upcoming into life story was explained. Sometime in the late 17th century, the story says that when Captain Morgan was young, he did not want to work with his father so, he left home and was dead broke. Then, "he did what anyone would do that was out of money at this time in history and sold himself for a term of three years to an agent who was taking out a number of men to work on the plantations." It also says, "When young Morgan reached Barbados he was resold to a planter, and during his term of service he probably worked a good deal harder and was treated much more roughly than any of the laborers on his father's farm" (Stockton 133). It was never stated in documents that Captain Morgan was treated in that way when he was growing up.

 Even though Captain Morgan was a very famous pirate, some stories were made to improve his legacy.

Sources: Stockton, Frank (1898). Buccaneers and Pirates.

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