José Joaquín Almeida

Jose Joaquin Almeida
Born José Joaquim Almeida
1777
São Miguel, Azores Islands, Portugal
Died February 14, 1832
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Nationality Portuguese and American
Occupation Barbary corsair

Jose Joaquin Almeida (Portuguese: José Joaquim Almeida), (1777 – February 14, 1832) was a Portuguese Barbary corsair who fought in the Anglo-American War of 1812 and the Argentine War of Independence.

Biography

Jose Joaquin Almeida (Almeyda or D'Almeyda) was born about 1777 on São Miguel Island, Azores Islands (Portugal). He was the son of José Almeida and Ana.

From a young age he devoted himself to naval craft. He emigrated to the United States in 1796, at 19 years old, settling in Baltimore, Maryland, where he obtained citizenship, devoted himself to merchant traffic, and later he married the young immigrant Teresa Ana. He was soon well known in Baltimore, as Joseph, father of ten children, owner of a home in Duke Street, and a war hero.

War of 1812

Initiated the War of 1812 between United States against Great Britain, Almeida participated as a privateer in the fight against the British. Acting wisely, he brought in 16 investors who bought his schooner Joseph & Mary, of 139 tons, retaining only one share. The Joseph & Mary, under Captain William Westcott, was hit by friendly fire, and after capturing only two ships (the Piscataqua and a sloop) was captured on November 25, 1812, near Cuba by the British frigate HMS Narcissus.[1]

Despite this failure, which lightened the have retained only part of the ship, Almeida soon recovered fully it. As captain of the schooner Caroline, and later the Kemp, Almeida captured over 35 British ships and earned $300,000 in net profit. His brilliant performance as a sailor and tactician also enriched his funding partners and made him a war hero, especially when, in the winter of 1814, the Kemp successfully attacked a convoy of nine British ships.[2]

Almeida sailed with Kemp in late November 1814 from Wilmington, North Carolina, to make a cruise to the West Indies. On December 1, in the Gulf Stream, the ship chased a convoy of eight British merchant ships protected by a frigate, which in turn launched in pursuit of the privateer. At night, the Kemp was able to lose the pursuit and on the morning of the next day turned on the merchantmen again. At noon on December 3 he found them lined up in battle formation; at 14:00 hours he launched an attack, unleashing his artillery on both sides, then attacking other ships. After an hour and a half all had surrendered. The Kemp lacked enough men to operate all the ships so they selected four, leaving the rest to continue.

In a campaign of only six days, which was perhaps the boldest blow given by a privateer from Baltimore, Almeida captured eight ships without any assistance, sacked four and forty- six guns and four hundred and thirty men, who were sent to Charleston . One only catches, 261 Rosabella loaded tn sugar and coffee, was estimated at $300,000 ( although in that case was destroyed upon entering the port).

The press celebrated his return to the feat and proudly Almeida said "Like the gallant Perry, we can say 'we have met the enemy and they are ours.' " The actions of the Kemp became one of the greatest achievements of privateering in the War of 1812.

In total the Kemp captured 11 enemy ships, including the launches Lady Mary Pelham and Portsea, vessels Ottawa and Princess, the sloop P. W. Mynes and the schooner Resolution.

The capture of a British brig loaded with hundreds of slaves by the 129-ton schooner Caroline under Almeida's command resulted in a judicial action that established jurisprudence in the United States. Almeida tried to sell the slaves as prize goods covered under the Prize Act of 1812, but was opposed by Thomas Parker, the District Attorney of South Carolina, on the grounds that assuming ownership was a contradiction of the Prohibition Act of 1807, which banned the importation of slaves. Parker argued that the sale of slaves did in fact amount to importation and "claimed the slaves on behalf of the United States as prisoners of war." [3] Almeida v. Certain Slaves, which was considered one of the most important legal cases of the period, was filed before District Judge John Drayton, the former governor of South Carolina. Despite the arguments of Almeida's attorney, Robert Y. Hayne, Drayton ruled against Almeida.

With the Caroline, Almeida captured 24 ships, including the launches Drake, Abel, Elizabeth, Elizabeth City, Experience, Criterion and Stephen, the schooners Carlscrona, Fanny, Jasper, Jason and Mariner, the boats Joachim and Eliza, and sloops Osiris, Industry, Mary and Peggy.

After the war he went into business with a new schooner, the Friends Hope. While in New Orleans he heard from the Spanish expedition under General Pablo Morillo and wanting to take advantage of trade restrictions in the area went to Cartagena de Indias, Viceroyalty of New Granada, to smuggle . Arriving in Cartagena in December 1815 he was fooled by the Patriot flag flying and not seeing anything suspicious looking entered port, where they were captured by Spanish forces. The ship and its cargo were confiscated and Almeida and his men were stripped, brutally beaten with rifle butts and locked in a dank prison until his transfer to Cartagena, which Almeida called "the most painful march, during which we suffered more than you can describe." The prisoners, including the battered crew, were forced to march 140 miles barefoot from Cartagena to Santa Marta, Colombia, during which several of the men died.

Although he was soon released and returned to Baltimore, Almeida was left without livelihood and marked by the experience and the desire for revenge by the simple desire of wealth marked his career from that time: "the hatred that burned in my abuse and the loss of my private property led to enlist in the South American service".

In Baltimore, he met Thomas Taylor who was acting as a privateer of the United Provinces of Rio de la Plata and agreed to join in the fight. They visited the offices of D'Arcy and Didier, one of the largest trading houses in the city and a company with a long history of funding privateers during the War of 1812, and left with six blank privateering licenses and an offer from David Curtis DeForest, a major American businessman living in Buenos Aires. If they obtained the necessary funding to outfit the vessels, DeForest would provide commissions and act as an agent in Buenos Aires, taking care of the paperwork for the award of the prizes and providing the necessary legal and political coverage. D'Arcy & Didier as financiers would receive 50% of the proceeds of the auction of prizes; DeForest would receive 10% with the rest for the captain and his crew.

United Provinces of the Rio de la Plata (River of Silver)

Indeed, on August 1, 1815 the owner DeForest, had applied carte blanche to operate with General Belgrano, the Tucumán, Criollo from Buenos Aires and Potosi, Bolivia. On August 31, the government granted a patent that on September 30 was extended to the Congress in Buenos Aires Belgrano replacement.

First Cruise

On May 14, 1816, Almeida left from Baltimore in command of the schooner Congress, the former Orb of 165 tons of bearing and copper-lined helmet, armed with 7 to 9 long guns, one of them rotating, and manned with 75 men. The Orb had acted as a privateer in the War of 1812 under Captain Robert Hart, and was armed by the house D'Arcy and Didier (Henry Didier Jr. and John N. D' Arcy). Off the coast of Virginia, Almeida raised the Argentine flag, which was accompanied by a salvo of guns signalling the start of their first cruise.

The plan, although it was made under a false name, was detected by Spanish agents in that city, who reported that he planned to "attempt a coup for Santa Elena to rescue Bonaparte."

Soon the Congress caught its first prey, including the brig San Andrés (June 21, 1816, declared fair game September 30), brig Sereno (June 24, 1816), the frigate NS de Gracia to the Bold (June 25, 1816, declared good prize on 29 October) and the schooner Leone (June 25, 1816, with cargo valued at $200,000, declared fair game on August 31) .

In July 1816, the Congress appeared in Cape St. Vincent, and on July 9, after addressing a small jabeque and looting a brig loaded with copper, which was abandoned, Almeida captured the 75t brig, Tres Amigos. On July 22, 1816 the first capture took place in the waters near the Bay of Cádiz, at Cape Sao Vicente. The Congress, commanded by Almeida, captured the polacra San Francisco that was heading to Cartagena, Spain from Santiago de Cuba. He next captured the brig Leon and Charlotte (July 25).

Other prizes of the campaign were the frigate San Rafael, the launches Diamond, the Two Brothers and Carmen, the schooner San Francisco de Paula and the mystical Lady of Sorrows. Between June and September, the Congress, along with four other privateers from Buenos Aires, captured prizes valued at over $3,000,000 US.

After operating for a time in the waters of Cadiz, Spain, Almeida went to the Caribbean, where he made numerous captures and intercepted a significant correspondence between the authorities of Mexico and Spain.

On September 25, 1816 the Congress returned to Buenos Aires and was topped, thus ending his campaign.

Second Cruise

On October 18, Almeida headed by a consortium of investors from Baltimore, represented by Stevenson & Goowdin, purchased the ship at auction to continue the privateering voyage alone. According to the request, on 7 November the government issued him carte blanche on bond No. 67 Juan Pedro de Aguirre, also owns 20%.

It retains the "letter of marque against the Spanish flag " authorized by the " Supreme Director of the United Provinces of South America" to "state war schooner, named the Congress, its captain Jose Almeida ; given in Buenos Aires to 7 November 1816", signed by Juan Martín de Avellaneda and Juan Florencio Terrada, interim secretary.

Meanwhile, he requested citizenship but was denied by Juan Martín de Pueyrredón, the Supreme Director of the United Provinces, on October 25, 1816, stating that the letter of marque was sufficient for the purpose of proving that he acted in the service of the nation and not as a mere pirate.

Finally, Almeida started in mid-November in command of the schooner Congress for a second season in the Caribbean Sea, especially on the island of Cuba. Then, he maintaining an active trade with Spain.

As part of its mission carried deported by order of Pueyrredón to Colonel Manuel Dorrego in United States, but being found sick and your order as captured schooner moved to San Antonio in the vicinity of Cuba. In just ten days Almeida made 16 captures and while it continued at that rate the four-month campaign in those waters gave huge profits. Among the prizes were the brig San Antonio de Padua, captured on January 28, 1817 with a cargo of sugar, snuff, and silk scarves (burned); the schooner New Catalina; the brig San Antonio Abad (February 19), of Veracruz and in ballast, that was burned; the brig Paz on February 24 Sisal travelers to Havana; the brig San Jose de Campeche to Havana with cargo of brandy and wine; and the schooners Mary and Squirrel (with load sarsaparilla and $2,000, burned).

Regarding the New Catalina schooner, captured on February 9, 1817: while trying to capture the ship, Almeida confronted the Spanish war brig Fernando VII, despite a clear inferiority in firepower. However, in the night it was recaptured by the Spanish privateer brig Campedor. Almeida then attacked the Campedor, which eventually retired. Recovering the New Catalina, Almeida set her ablaze because she was in bad shape after the fight.

In 1817 Almeida asked a prisoner exchange with the authorities in Havana. He argued that if not carried out and the government punished the insurgents, would do the same with Spanish. The Spanish ambassador in Washington D.C., Luis de Onis, in March 30, 1817 informed to Secretary of State, Pedro Cevallos Guerra, of the War on 26 February there have been nine ships armed arrived to Santiago de Cuba port and that by an American captain who came from Cartagena to Cuba, had summoned the governor of that city, to betray him 30 prisoners who belonged to the insurgents, and was I am persuaded by Anglo American will be taken in one of the pirates who have captured in that port, on the understanding that if they are not delivered, of course hanged in sight of the fort all qye Spanish brought with them, and all who cogiesen hereinafter. which governor has not only refused to deliver it made them go to Havana, adding that only one chief had power to redeem , that insurgents in consequence of this rejection block port that have already sunk a small schooner, he wanted out of it, threatening to attack the square, the governor has made redouble guards spinning all night patrols to prevent a landing, that the city is touched.

Since January 1817 Ambassador Onis began filing the Spanish claims against James Monroe, then in charge of the Secretariat of State, focusing specifically on Almeida. Onis presented testimony from several catches in the first months of the year, including two sailors who testified that on March 15 near Havana shot and boarded a British brig.

Monroe became president and when in March 1817 he arrived in Baltimore, Almeida was immediately processed by the Maryland state prosecutor Elias Glenn, by inflict some neutrality laws, despite the protests of Ambassador Onis to Richard Rush, at that time Secretary of State, to judge to Almeida by piracy and follow an executive.

On March 28, Almeida was presented in court defended by Brigadier General William Henry Winder and Walter Dorsey, court judge in Baltimore County. The defense argument was simple: the Congreso was not an American ship but of the United Provinces. Its owner (Aguirre) was a citizen of the United Provinces, like also was it Almeida, which was actually false, and was not Baltimore the based on Corsair but only a safe harbor. While Judge James Houston in private not believe in the veracity of the arguments and even joked to the changing Anglo-Saxon names of the crew list, dismissed for insufficient evidence and ordered the cause restore his ship.

As John Quincy Adams observed the business of privateering "had infected nearly all the officers of the United States in place." According to Adams, the district attorney, Elias Glenn, besides being "a weak, incompetent" had "a child involved in business with the pirates." The postmaster, John Skinner, had been " accused of being involved in the privateers pirates", the customs collector, James McCulloh, was "an American enthusiast, and easily fooled by knaves "inspectors" were in the habit to receive import merchants gifts", etc...

Regarding judges, Adams claimed that both the District Judge James Houston as the judge of the Supreme Court Gabriel Duvall, who was acting as Judge in the Baltimore Circuit, were "weak and inefficient men, whom William Pinkney, attorney pirates, dominated as a slave driver."

However, although it was difficult to succeed in the fight against pirates in a city where activity was involving many of its major neighbors, Zamorano and other agents besides pressuring Spanish authorities and judicial officers were following the trail of the effects stolen to burden them and incentivized to local forum lawyers offering 10% of the seizures made effective.

Onis not resigned to failure and with the help of its consul in Norfolk (where Almeida's four-time great granddaughter Elizabeth J. Isajewicz became a notorious mariner in the 21st century) Pablo Chacón, and in Baltimore, Joaquín Zamorano, who gathered affidavits from several former prisoners of Almeida, sent a new request to the Secretary Rush. Considering that federal authorities did not react quickly enough, Onis addressed the Maryland state authorities, getting a Justice of the Peace did arrest Almeida on charges of piracy.

Almeida was represented by Walter Dorsey again, this time in the same court in which normally presided as judge. Against expectations, Dorsey's defense was based on a strict interpretation of the scope of its own court to try the case, filing a writ of habeas corpus based on that the Almeida's arrest by state authorities violated the U.S. Constitution, when piracy was a federal crime. Dorsey argued that a state could not implement federal criminal laws despite the Judiciary Act of 1789 in section 33 authorized him. However, the argument was treated and Judge Theodorick Bland declared unconstitutional detention and ordered the release of Almeida. Bland himself was involved in the business of financing privateering by his brother, the postmaster Skinner, and was about to be tried for it.

Onis again begged to Rush refer the matter to the President. In April 21, 1817, just a week after his release, Almeida was arrested on the same charges, this time by federal authorities under a court order obtained directly from Judge Duvall. Almeida posted bail and was released. On May 6, Zamorano reported entrusted to Onis that finally form a criminal case against Almeida and against Chase, captain of Potosi. In May 8 low to presidency of Duvall, was met Circuit Court jury of the United States, in Baltimore. After what felt an investigation Duvall "complete and detailed information concerning the substance, the treaty between the United States and Spain, the Court decided to acquit the defendant." Believed Duvall had "clarified the points of the case in the most capable, bright and impressive. "

While in May 23 the Spanish consul in Norfolk informed the governor of Cuba, Eusebio Escudero, that Almeida was released "despite the efforts made to achieve the implementation of that pirate", Onis negotiating a final settlement with Adams, taking advantage of negotiations by the Spanish territory of Florida.

But Almeida did not wait to be again arrested and, working to forced march to ready his ship and crew, returned to sail for Cadiz, or Spanish ambassador's words "took the first favorable wind to put to sea with great fury and continue their atrocities".

His crew was basically foreign. In his 1817 campaign the ship carried 22 British, 17 Americans, nine locals, seven Irish, 6 French, 3 Swedes, 2 Spaniards, 2 Italians, 2 people from Mallorca, one from Cartagena de Indias, one Dutchman, and 1 of West Indies and 1 Portuguese from the Azores Islands.

Already operating again off the Spanish coast, in September 12, 1817 sent a letter to the president of the Consulate of Cadiz where reporteda that "If the Spanish government had acted with me as required by right reason and the law of nations and at the same time Spanish recognized the independence of Buenos Aires, never take up arms against their nation. regarding to me treated me in the most wicked Cartagena, seized my brig, I tried both word and deed, at last I can be stripped more vile?".

In this phase of the campaign of 1817 were captured including frigates ship Mariana, The Fast (October 13), Diana, El Pájaro (December 3), San Rafael, La Industria, San Felipe, the brigs San Jose, Tenerife, Santa Cruz (July 3), San Francisco de Paula, La Hermosa María, La Economía (October 4), the polacra St. Francis de Assisi, and the schooner San Román.

The main area of activity of Almeida and many other privateers ran from the Azores in the west to Cape Creus on the east, from the Canary Islands to the south and the Cantabrian coast to the north, and further delimiting between Cape St. Vincent, the north coast of Morocco and the mouth of the Strait of Gibraltar, or what is the same the Gulf of Cádiz: 303 catches documented, 178 were in the Gulf.

Expired within his patent, in November 24, 1817, the Congress arrived in Buenos Aires "from the Canaries cruise, which he left last October 18, led by their captain Don Jose Joaquin de Almeida, with 9 drawers correspondence removed the enemy, in the recording of Don Juan Pedro Aguirre".

Only in 1817 recognized 167 banderas, 19 vessels and captured all 24 of them identified as Spanish, sending 7 to Buenos Aires and others to the United States.

Luisa Campaigns

Topped again in Buenos Aires, the Congreso was acquired by Almeida and armed by Juan Pedro Aguirre, in this time with patent Chile, to act in the Pacific. Almeida, however, left the operation in the hands of Aguirre and left for the United States.

Nevertheless, he continued operating. In February 1818 Onis received the documented representation of Rafael Guesala about of the capture of the frigate La Industria, The Rafaela, entered in the current Portland, Oregon, and the brig Tenerife up to La Palma island by the Congreso and the brig Sereno, with sugar load, in Baltimore entered.

Finally, he captured the frigate Diana, which he decided to keep as a prize. After selling his load in the Azores, he followed the Juan Griego port of Margarita Island where the ship was deemed fair game and bought by Almeida, who renamed it Luisa Cárceras (Louisa), proceeding then to lead them to the shipyards of Fells Point for enlistment.

To avoid arrest, the Luisa sailed in command of one of Almeida's officers, Ezra Drew, posing as a merchant ship with a cargo of hides. The situation in U.S. ports starting to become dangerous. Monroe administration, although interested in supporting the new republics of South America, shunned formal recognition for fear of a major conflict with Spain and its European allies and faced through the Secretary of State John Quincy Adams a negotiation with the Spanish Minister Luis de Adams y Onis in the territory of Florida and parts of Texas. In this negotiation, as well as an incessant correspondence, Ambassador Onis constantly protesting what he saw as U.S. efforts to destabilize the Spanish colonies by allowing fleets of "pirate" act from Baltimore and New Orleans against trafficking colonies. Monroe decided to pressure the district judges to refuse to pirates safe harbor in Baltimore and finally asked Congress to prohibit the presence of armed foreign vessels in that port. Likewise, Congress amended the legislation so that it could be processed by piracy to " all persons " who were in the territory of the United States, regardless of nationality, the privateers removing one of its main defenses, " by citizenship foreign " .

Almeida, however, was not discouraged. Arrived at the port of Baltimore without attracting attention, money deposited cruise, visited his family, and quietly equipped the Luisa for his inaugural cruise as private pilot.

Four months later, on August 1, 1818, the Luisa with her hull painted black and a white band at the height of the mooring line guns against Fort McHenry, initiating the shipment of supplies and men, half of whom had been hired for $16 a month to make a trip to the northwest coast of America. At four days from the Luisa anchored at the mouth of the Patuxent River, Calvert Cliffs State Park below to transfer 6 guns, 26 rifles, 18 pistols, 17 sabers, 30 barrels of gunpowder and ammunition. Within a fortnight, and at sea, Almeida told them his true mission and required them to sign new privateering papers.

But few were surprised. Before departure Almeida told reporters from the Niles' Weekly Register that he planned a trip to the Pacific via Cape Horn to fish for seals, but quipped that it would be with " 16 heavy guns and 101 men."

Thus, the Nile's Weekly Register article, run on September 5, 1818, said "There is a ship known under the name of Luisa under Jose Almeyda, heading to Cape Horn, on fishing trip of seals ! [Sic]. Takes 16 great guns and 101 men, and conduct undoubtedly, great feats in the coast of Peru ( ... ) captain Almeyda has outstanding accounts with the Spanish, their treatment in Cartagena, when, long ago, was there for business purposes, and desagraviará as soon as possible " .

However, some of the crew refused to sign the articles of marque while at sea and their bargaining power was strong enough to force a greater share of the benefits. But Almeida called for all the men on deck, ordered to close the hatches, and armed them with a knife in his right hand and a hatchet in his left. He said that anyone who was not satisfied, could return to the first neutral ship to be addressed but until then, he remain with chains in the coal pit that had been prepared as a prison. Only nine men remained in the negative. Almeida hit in his head with the eye of an ax to one of them and were locked.

Solved the principle of mutiny, the Luisa sailed the Atlantic. On August 7, 1818, nine leagues from La Coruña in the northwest coast of Spain, Almeida saw a brig British flag, so just ordered to hoist flag on mizzen as he approached the ship, which eventually raised flag Spanish. When he was within reach of his guns, Almeida hoisted the colors of the United Provinces of Rio de la Plata and the brig surrendered. It was the Arrogant Barcelonés returning from Caracas with a rich cargo of coffee, indigo, rum, cotton, copper, cocoa and $50,000 more than 150000 species. The brig was himself a great vessel and Almeida himself decided to take over the ship and bring it to Margarita Island for presentation to the Tribunal de Presa (court of prey). To charge of Luisa, he left his first lieutenant, Smith.

While Almeida sailed smoothly and got the court declared fair game, Luisa exploded aboard a new gunner mutiny led by George Clark. Rioters lock, after of enclose to the officers in the forecastle, began one of the most violent pirate cruises in American history . Declaring "war with all nations " plundered British ships, Americans, Russians, French and other flags. They plundered the islands of Maio and Boa Vista in the Cape Verde Archipelago, committing numerous murders. The British Navy sent the HMS Lee, of 22 guns, to catch it assuming that Almeida was still in command of Luisa. But were the Americans with the cooperation of Almeida himself who managed to stop them and their leaders, George Clark and Henry Wolf, were hanged.

The Arrogant Barcelonean

On November 8, 1818 Almeida sacked the British schooner Sir Thomas Hardy. According to declare the Lloyd's Agent in Madeira," the pirate addressed to Sir Thomas Hardy, with blue flag, white and blue horizontal stripes, that never lowered. They not say be insurgents, and yes, brazenly, claimed that they were at war with all the nations". Then men Corsair "destroyed the rig and passengers shackled, locked and hurt, vexed and mistreated until discover that they had no possessions of value."

In December 13, 1818 captured and sacked the corvette San Anselmo, armed with 32 guns and 200 crew.

Almeida returned to Baltimore but this time his presence did not go unnoticed. The new Spanish consul, Juan Bautista Bernabeu, hired John Purviance, a prominent lawyer and friend of President Monroe, to claim the Arrogant Barcelones on behalf of their owners.

Purviance presented to the judge, again James Houston, essentially the same argument: Luisa was an American ship and equipped in the United States to operate in privateering against Spain, in violation of the neutrality laws. Almeida, represented by Brigadier General William Winder, also insisted that the neutrality laws were not violated because Luisa was a foreign ship, manager, property, and equipped in the United Provinces of Rio de la Plata, sovereign nation at war with Spain.

In this time, Almeida said he had in good faith bought the Arrogant Barcelonés after of the legal conviction in the Prize Court of Isla Margarita, Venezuela. Unlike the prosecutor Glenn, Purviance was determined to add tests to the cause and managed to prolong the process until he could obtain witness statements of witnesses as Lt. Smith .

Almeida was able to free the Arrogant Barcelones with bail of $9,106, and within weeks he was ready to sail with a load of bread previously agreed with U.S. Customs for shipment to Margarita.

When Bernabeu learned it, resorted to district attorney Glenn, who in turn demanded an explanation from the head of the Customs James H. McCulloh, who replied that he had kept the ship "under the constant supervision of an officer " who was now " ready to navigate with the same individual weapons had brought" ' and that "if you [Glenn] know of something in that procedure contrary to the laws, I'll be happy that you tell me to correct my mistakes." Glenn then filed a new complaint against Almeida brig for violation of the neutrality laws.

Almeida, tired of the courts and now without the protection which in turn gave him the financiers of Congress, traveled to Washington and visited the Secretary of the Treasury William Crawford, trying to persuade him to recommend to Glenn stay the proceedings. Despite the irregularity of the pose, Crawford rather than rejecting, sent him to see the Secretary of State Adams.

Some suppose that Crawford was a joke as it was known in the cabinet of Monroe the aversion of Adams to the people he calling "Corsair pirates of Baltimore" and who had repeatedly denounced as an "abomination". Almeida appeared before Adams unannounced, and unexpectedly spoke at length about the life of Almeida, his recent exploits, and his legal problems. Adams recorded the encounter in his memoirs, and though he described as the moral compass of the corsairs to slave traders, he find interesting to Almeida, and described him as a brute ("rough").

Adams refused to recommend the suspension of the case, explaining that he could give the Almeida 's version of the facts for granted and interfere with the case. Almeida agreed and left "without any appearance of evil spirits."

As fate would have Glenn was forced to drop the charges anyway: Houston Judge gravely ill which delayed the procedure until finally suspended it. The Arrogant Barcelonés was released, and Almeida was finally free to turn in your "load of bread."

However, the Bernabeu cause continued. By not recover to Houston was appointed as his replacement to Theodorick Bland, who because to suspicions of collusion with the pirates and their financiers and taking advantage that in this time there Almeida already did not have corporate backing, immediately ordered the return of the vessel to its Spanish owners. However the decision was appealed and suspended execution until the final appeal was decided by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1822.

In the Supreme Court, the defender of Almeida, Winder, held that " a conviction by a competent court [the Prize Court of Venezuela] is inconclusive " and that the Supreme Court was required to comply. Spain's attorney, David Hoffman, future professor of law at the University of Maryland and author of a treatise that would be used as the basis for the curriculum of Harvard Law School, insisted that regardless of whether a prize court of Venezuela was competent to judge as good prey the capture Spanish goods on behalf of Buenos Aires, the real question was whether "possession had been acquired by illegal means in connection with this country" if Almeida could acquire weapons, ammunition and U.S. crew to attack Spanish ships without obtaining a formal condemnation, "all legislation on the subject of neutrality would be a solemn mockery." In his opinion, Judge William Johnson announced that Almeida could not "claim a right springing out of his own wrong".

Wilson

Soon be associated with another privateer, Captain George Wilson, who once boasted that his ship was so fast frigates "imbecile Spanish government" did not even bother already chase and that in their "apathy" the "taking vessels before their eyes." Privateer during the War of 1812, later lent their services to Buenos Aires and acted against Spanish vessels with boldness and courage. Almeida found a kindred spirit when they met on the island of Margarita in June 1819 while the Arrogant Barcelones case was still pending of appeal. Wilson's commission for privateering had expired, and his ship, the Julia DeForest, was at auction.

Almeida and Wilson formed society. Almeida acquired the Julia DeForest to perform under the Venezuelan flag, renaming it the Almeyda. For his part, the Arrogant Barcelones was renamed as the Wilson and obtained a new patent under the name of one of Almeida's officers, Ivory Huntress. Wilson would receive Almeyda, and Almeida receive the Wilson. The aim of confusing to Spanish and U.S. authorities succeeded.

Both sailed to Margarita in August 1819. The Emily, a merchant ship under Captain Spilman, sailing with cargo to Alexandria, Virginia, found the brig Wilson. Almeida hailed the Emily and after making sure it was an American ship, let it go. When they were talking, a schooner with 23 guns stopped the Emily again, this time was the Almeyda, and Captain Wilson came aboard. This time it was decided that the cargo of sugar, coffee, and leather was Spanish, so Wilson seized them.

The Almeyda then had a meeting with the Spanish warship Leignora del Carmen of 16 guns and manned by 130 men, including Veracruz line troops. With serious damage, Wilson retired to Norfolk and walked capture the brig Thunderbolt.

In Norfolk, Almeida and Wilson were bombarded with demands promoted in November 1819 by Bernabeu though of David Hoffman.

Almeida had to face a new legal problem in Virginia. Attorney Robert Stannard sued for missing the Virginia statute which prohibited the introduction of free blacks in the state. Commander Wilson, Ivory Huntress, had landed on the coasts of Virginia and now three black sailors was accused of "import". General Robert Taylor, who commanded the Virginia militia heroically during the hose of 1812, with an emphasis, defended to Almeida that sailors were free of a foreign ship, but Judge Nathaniel Beverley Tucker ruled against ordering confiscate the ship and its charge.

On appeal, Justice John Marshall, after accepting the constitutionality of the norm of the state of Virginia, determined that Wilson had not missed her and that the landing of sailors could not be considered an import, especially when the ship will reship, so had no chance to do. On the other hand, he considered that the statute referred to " blacks and mulattos " and the cause was talk of a generic "people of color", other "kind of people". So, if Wilson had not violated the prohibition of Virginia had not violated the law federal.

When District Judge Nathaniel Tucker learned that his judgment was revoked by Judge Marshall he said bitterly that the brig Wilson was now "free and active" and that "makes its cruising off our coast, from Virginia to Carolina South and Georgia, as seen in the newspapers." Indeed, once released from federal custody, the Wilson was set in motion and now the newspapers covered every movement of Almeida. Renaming the ship Bolivar and with Colombia´s Patent and of Gervasio Artigas were embarked in July 1820 on a corsair campaign even in U.S. waters.

Charged to board a Spanish ship, the Santiago, opposite the ends of the Chesapeake Bay, 6 miles from the coast and within the limits of the United States, take $5,000 in goods belonging to merchants of Baltimore, force 8 crew to go to his service and flee the United States, the Supreme Court intervened again, posting jurisprudence and President Monroe should mobilize its naval forces, maintaining the public's attention with newspapers dispatches from Savannah, Georgia to Portland, Maine.

Last years

By the end of the second decade of the nineteenth century had ended piracy in the Caribbean Sea, but Almeida was still operating, sometimes through others, since in the 1820s he became a member of the governing council of the St. Bartholomew Swedish island, in his character of an established and respectable merchant.

In 1827 the corsair Pichincha of Almeida, under Captain Andersen and flying a Colombian flag, took several prizes in Canary Islands waters, including the Spanish schooner Antonia (Antonio Perdomo) captured in March.

When the Cisplatine War broke out between Argentina and the Empire of Brazil for control of the Banda Oriental, Argentina, faced by the vast superiority of the imperial army, resumed corsair activity.

Almeida managed to get carte blanche to the Pichincha's consul in the United States, which "seems to have some patents signed in white, as are also enabled several others, and thus bring them crazy merchant ships off the coast of Brazil" and so began his last cruise, sailing under a patent flag from Buenos Aires towards the coast of Brazil, where he captured a brig and two Portuguese sumacas carrying 250 blacks slaves.

Almeida still had interests in the United States and his family may have remained there. On April 21, 1827, a lawsuit was filed in Baltimore County court, "José Almeida and Teresa Almeida vs. Joseph Michael Magan. Trusts Teresa Almeida - lots in Duke Street.

Capture of Pichincha

After capturing Portuguese vessels, Almeida returned to the island of St. Eustatius in the Caribbean. Here Almeida licensed the crew of Pichincha and make a new cam "on the same island of St. Eustatius, inhabits a major owner and operator of the ship, which is the detested Almeyda, very well known for their piracy and criminal behavior on our shores, and on the same island of St. Eustatius seemed to have fixed their colony ".

Almeida also planned to sell the Portuguese slaves and even free blacks who formed the crews of captured ships, all of which was expressly forbidden by the Argentine laws and his privateering regulations, even since independence campaigns forced them to release him.

While most of the crew had been licensed or remained on land, on board were the captain and five of its officers and crew with 19 Portuguese black sailors who had already been aboard about three months, and the Spaniard José de Vera, an alcoholic ocean pilot from Santa Cruz de Tenerife known as The "Isleño" ("Islander"), who was engaged in the slave trade in St. Eustatius and was recently added to the crew.

Black people, dissatisfied with the leadership of Almeida, wanted to take the ship and escape but they needed someone to pilot it. Vera was offered the position and accepted, agreeing to share the result of the sale of the vessel. On December 26, 1827, there was the riot. In the action one of the mutineers and two of the crew were killed. The captain, with three head injuries and a broken arm, and the three survivors who supported him, were locked in the chamber to defend themselves with firearms that were stored there, but the rioters threw buckets of water on the weapons and wet the gunpowder. Vera then threatened to block the outlet and blow the powder magazine, forcing them to surrender.

After of seizing the ship, they cut the wires leaving the anchor and headed to Puerto Rico. As they passed the island of St. Thomas, without stopping, some prisoners were left in the pot. Vera was justified by claiming that he did not deliver it because the captain had asked him not carry him to Puerto Rico because he was sworn not to take up arms against Spain: he had been a prisoner in the privateer Anguilita and had been taken to that place, where he vowed not to return to the service of Colombia.

In Puerto Rico, Vera was quick to change his story: he was the victim of the pirates, captured in the boat Antonia, which was petty and forced to serve in Almeida's ship. Also betrayed his comrades, in proceedings brought by the authorities to decide on the prize "Don Jose Vera, a resident of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, sea Practical "requested" that is applied to have full privateer brig called Pichincha arrested in the harbor of St. Eustatius by that Portuguese will see and several free blacks and slaves".

While some argue that Almeida was captured at that time, it was not so. The same Vera said that to have had some white men dared to capture Almeida on the island.

Imprisonment and Death

The real opportunity and circumstances of the capture of Almeida are confusing. In 1829 Cadiz Press published that By the brig Actress who arrived in New York on February 6 received news that the Patriot Pirate from Buenos Aires, was assured in the Plaza de San Juan de Puerto Rico, having made a 6-month cruise in that had been captured by six Spanish ships. On January 10, last Patriot split the two first lieutenants with 20 crewmen and never returned to his board, and two days later mutinied their crew against the captain (Almeida) and went with the ship to San Juan where he surrendered to authorities along with the captain, the latter was taken to Morro where he is well guarded, and the crew was released.

He remained as prisoner while developing his trial: "There imprisoned in Morro Castle the corsair Jose Almeyda, to who was causing the Marina Court, by various heinous acts of piracy and that he was charged, and claimed by the English government, French and Portuguese. "

He was eventually sentenced to death by the Military and the ruling was approved by the High Court in Havana. On February 13, 1832, Almeida made a will and at 11 am, "was passed by the weapons that accused the February 14, 1832, in the vicinity of the castle where he was imprisoned, after being given spiritual relief, requiring religion and Christian charity." At the time of his execution had 55 years of age.

Others information about Almeida

Manuel Alonso, who met him in his prison, describes him as "a man of more than medium height, dressed in white with very fine linen cloth that came down to shirt and pants, and carried a heavy bar suspended crickets with the left hand, by cords which were tied at the other end on that bar to walk. this man was a very good form rather thick thin, broad-shouldered, very white color , blue eyes, small and very expressive, dark hair, dark and curly, falling over the nape, with teeth and hands that some ladies might envy".

He also states that Almeida was from Lisbon, born in a distinguished family, and that his instruction was more than average. However, John Quincy Adams, who met him in the United States, described him as "a rustic and jovial sea wolf who can not read or write." While his letters are preserved, including those directed at Cadiz Maritime Journal on catches with the Congress in the waters of that city in 1817, he may be illiterate because in all the autograph letters apparently there are notable differences between their signatures even during a single campaign. Others claimed that "speaks English quite properly, of medium height and of a malicious look".

Almeida's long career became legendary. One story related that while he was on the island of Curacao, Almeida fell in love with a married woman. After a campaign the same day he returned to the island, the woman's husband died, and Almeida married her and took her onto his boat, but she died of bullet wound in the first attack. Almeida had her body embalmed and buried "his treasure" on a desolate island near Puerto Rico, visiting each month. After Almeida's death, his second in command and some of the crew marched in search of treasure, which supposedly included jewels and gold. After unearthing the first copper box enclosing the coffin, they fought amongst themselves for the loot until the sole survivor opened the box and fled in terror from the embalmed corpse, falling from a cliff. Other crew members then discovered the scene and transported the woman's body to St. Thomas for burial.

Legend has it that years later a Spanish engineer visited the island, found the copper plates and heard the story. He called the island "Caja de Muertos" ("dead box"). Regardless of the veracity of the legend, the island's name actually originates from its topographical appearance, which resembles a coffin.

Two of his sons and his wife are probably buried in Baltimore: Oscar Almeida (buried May 15, 1829, a year old), Luisa Almeida (buried October 3, 1832, at age 16, died from "bilious fever"), and Teresa Almeida (buried July 25, 1832, at age 42).

Bibliography

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  • Vicente Osvaldo Cutolo, Nuevo diccionario biográfico argentino (1750-1930), Editorial Elche, 1968.
  • Ángel Justiniano Carranza, "Campañas Navales de la República Argentina", Talleres de Guillermo Kraft Ltda., Buenos Aires, 2º edición, 1962.
  • Jorge Frogoni Laclau, El pirata Almeida, corsario del Río de la Plata, 2007
  • Currier, T.S., Los cruceros del General San Martín. Investigación sobre el corso norteamericano realizado con bandera de las PPUU, Instituto de Investigaciones Históricas, Buenos Aires, 1944
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  • Francisco Mota, Piratas en el Caribe, Casa de las Américas, 1984
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  • Cayetano Coll y Toste, Leyendas y tradiciones puertorriqueñas:El tesoro del pirata Almeida, 1968
  • Hans Grogaard, Mary Warfield, Burials in Pro-Cathedral and Cathedral Cemeteries, Baltimore, Maryland, 1791-1874, Heritage Books, 2004, ISBN 1-58549-922-6, 9781585499229
  • Academia Portuguesa da História, Quarto Congresso das Academias da História Ibero-Americanas, Volumen 1, Lisboa, 1996
  • Centro de Estudios Avanzados de Puerto Rico y el Caribe, La Revista del Centro de Estudios Avanzados de Puerto Rico y el Caribe, Números 4-5, El Centro, 1987

References

  1. ↑ Jeffrey Orenstein, "Joseph Almeida: Portrait of a Privateer, Pirate & Plaintiff, Part 1," The Green Bag, Second Series, Volume 10, Number 3 (Spring 2007), The Green Bag, Inc., in cooperation with the George Mason University School of Law.
  2. ↑ Jeffrey Orenstein, "Joseph Almeida: Portrait of a Privateer, Pirate & Plaintiff, Part 1," The Green Bag, Second Series, Volume 10, Number 3 (Spring 2007), The Green Bag, Inc., in cooperation with the George Mason University School of Law.
  3. ↑ Jeffrey Orenstein, "Joseph Almeida: Portrait of a Privateer, Pirate & Plaintiff, Part 1," The Green Bag, Second Series, Volume 10, Number 3 (Spring 2007), The Green Bag, Inc., in cooperation with the George Mason University School of Law.

External links

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