Miguel Henríquez

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Miguel Henriquez
born c. 1680 – 17??

Capt. Miguel Henriquez
Nickname Captain of the Seas and Land
Place of birth Puerto Rico
Allegiance Spanish Navy
Rank Captain
Battles/wars Defeated the British in Vieques
Awards La Medalla de Oro de la Real Efigie (The Gold Medal of the Royal Effigy)

Capt. Miguel Henriquez also spelled Enriquez (c. 1680 – 17??), born in Puerto Rico, was a pirate in the latter part of the 17th century who fought the British Navy in Vieques and was granted the privileges of privateer by the Spanish Crown.[1]

Contents

[edit] Biography

Henriquez, a mulatto, was a shoemaker by occupation. In the latter years of the 17th century, Henriquez decided to try his luck as a pirate. He intercepted English merchant ships and other ships dedicated to contraband that were infesting the seas of Puerto Rico and the Atlantic Ocean in general.

Henriquez organized an expeditionary force which fought and defeated the British in the island of Vieques. Henriquez was received as a national hero when he returned the island of Vieques back to the Spanish Empire and to the governorship of Puerto Rico.

In recognition for his services, the Spanish Crown, under the order of King Philip V (1683-1746), awarded Miguel Henriquez with "La Medalla de Oro de la Real Efigie" (The Gold Medal of the Royal Effigy) in 1713 and named him Captain of the Seas and Land, The Spanish Crown also gave him a special permit to do his pirate activities in the name of Spain. The letter of marque and reprisal granted him the privileges of privateer.

According to Puerto Rican author, José Luis González, Henriquez eventually became one of the richest men in Puerto Rico. He owned as many as five ships and had at least 500 men working for him at one time.[2]

For some reasons, never clearly established, he was persecuted by the Spanish elite in the island and jailed on various occasions. He was stripped of all his power and wealth by the Spanish government in the island. It is believed that he died a pauper.[3]

Puerto Rican writer Enrique A. Laguerre wrote a novel dedicated to Miguel Henriquez, tittled "Miguel Enríquez, la novela Proa libre sobre mar gruesa' (Miguel Henriquez, free life in a heavy sea). Dr. Angel Lopez Cantos is a Spanish historian, who has studied the life and whereabouts of Henriquez. His findings can be examined in the following publications:

  • "Historia y Poesía en la Vida de Miguel Enríquez. San Juan de Puerto Rico. Librería Editorial Ateneo. 2004. ISBN 1-881703-61-4"
  • "Miguel Enríquez. Sevilla. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Escuela de Estudios Hispano-Americanos. 1998. 431. ISBN 0-942347-04-8"
  • "Mi Tio, Miguel Enríquez (Relato Histórico). San Juan, Pueto Rico. Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña.1997. 311. ISBN 0-86581-496-1"
  • "Miguel Enríquez, Corsario Boricua del Siglo XVIII. San Juan, Puerto Rico. Puerto. 1994. 403. ISBN 0-942347-04-8"

[edit] See also

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Challenging Changes
  2. ^ "El país de cuatro pisos" by José Luis González, pgs. 22 and 50
  3. ^ Puertorriqueñidad

[edit] References

  • "Puerto Rico: An Interpretive History from Precolumbia Times to 1900" by Olga Jimenez De Wagenheim, Jimenez De Wagenheim Olga
  • "Voces de la Cultura" by Angel Collado Schwarz
  • "Atlas de Historia de Puerto Rico: Desde sus Origenes Hasta el Siglo XIX" by Arturo Santana and R. Torrech
  • "Miguel Enríquez: Corsario boricua del siglo XVIII" by Angel López Cantos

[edit] External links

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