John Clipperton
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
John Clipperton was an English pirate and privateer who fought against the Spanish in the 18th century. He used Clipperton Island (discovered in 1521 by Ferdinand Magellan) as his base for his raids on shipping.
Contents |
[edit] Early life and personality
John Clipperton was born in Yarmouth / Norfolk into a family of seafarers. In his younger days he sailed all the seas of Europe, made one trip to the West Indies and one around the world. He was an able pilot and seaman, but also a man with faults. He was a blunt, rough, free-spoken sailor. He definitely was no gentleman, but at times tried to be one. Rash fits of bad temper would befall him, but he was soon appeased. Then he would be ready to repair any injustice that he had committed in the heat of anger – at least if this was possible.
[edit] First privateer expedition
In 1704 he sailed with the expedition of captain William Dampier. Dampier had appointed Clipperton as a captain of one of the Spanish ships he had taken as a prize. This first voyage of Clipperton did not proceed well. He led a mutiny against Dampier, and was later taken captive by the Spaniards. The Marquis of Villa Roche, who later governed Panama, treated him with much indifference. He came home 1712 after four years of captivity.
It was, however, during this journey, that he re-discovered Clipperton Island, which had first been sighted by Magellian. He was later to use the island as a hideout.
[edit] Second expedition
Much more is known about Clipperton‘s second voyage to the Pacific Ocean, in 1719. By that time Clipperton had become an able and diligent captain, but he was still unable to control his rash temper. British merchants had financed a privateering expedition that saw Clipperton with his vessel Success journey to the South Seas, under the command of George Shelvocke. During the expedition, Shelvocke lost his command, and his ship, the Lady Luck, to Clipperton.
Clipperton sailed with Lady Luck around South America, raiding Spanish ships, from small coastal travellers to the Manila boats. Weakened by disease at first, he later had much success and even managed to capture his old enemy the Marquis of Villa Roche, whom he treated with much respect. Later, his travels carried him to Mexico and to Macao, where he took residence after his health troubles made it impossible for him to continue. Clipperton later sailed to Batavia in Dutch Indonesia and finally returned to his family in Galway in Ireland in 1722. He died a week after returning home.
[edit] References
Skaggs, Jimmy M. (October 1989). Clipperton: A History of the Island the World Forgot. Walker & Co. ISBN 0-8027-1090-5.
