Who Was Henry Morgan?
Frank A. Fiorello; peace, love, and a loaded gun.
Sir Henry Morgan was born 1635, Cardiff, Wales and died August 25, 1688, probably Lawrencefield, Jamaica. Morgan was a prominent Welsh privateer, most celebrated of the adventurers who raided Spain’s Caribbean colonies during the late 17th century. Captain Morgan rum brand is named after this very real person.
Privateers operated as licensed pirates, acting as government agents to raid rival nations and retaining a portion of the spoils. Morgan, a member of the "Brethren of the Coast" band of genuine "Pirates of the Caribbean", gained significant wealth and renown from his daring feats.
In 1668, Morgan was appointed commander of the buccaneers and promptly captured Puerto Príncipe now Camagüey, Cuba, an—in a remarkably audacious maneuver—stormed and sacked the heavily fortified city of Portobelo on the Isthmus of Panama.
Captain Morgan orchestrated multiple raids against Spanish colonies, with his most celebrated exploit occurring in 1671, when he commanded 1,000 men in the capture of Panama City.
Morgan's raid on Panamá occurred after the conclusion of peace between England and Spain, resulting in his arrest and transportation to London in April 1672.
However, relations with Spain rapidly deteriorated, and in 1674, King Charles II knighted Morgan and appointed him deputy governor of Jamaica, where he resided as a wealthy and respected planter until his demise.
His arrest, conviction, and subsequent knighthood serve as a prime example of how those in power have traditionally employed individuals as tools for political gain.
Although the world has undergone significant transformations since the 17th century, the manner in which geopolitical decisions are made appears to have remained relatively consistent.
Upon his return to Jamaica, he left piracy behind and assumed the office of lieutenant-governor of the colony; when he died at 53, he was accorded a state funeral in Port Royal, with a naval salute fired in his honor.
It is to be hoped that Capt. Henry Morgan, as Lieutenant Governor of the colony, exercised fairness and justice, affording his subjects the dignity, respect, and kindness they merited, recognizing the critical importance of citizens to the nation's prosperity.
In 1944, the Seagram company founded a rum distillery in Jamaica, naming it in honor of the larger-than-life local pirate. Sir Henry Morgan's legend and exploits continue to inspire many wild adventures, thanks to the rum that bears his name. I must admit that I have had my share of adventures with his name on my lips.
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