The Pirate King: The Incredible Story Of Captain Henry Morgan by Graham A. Thomas

Captain Henry Morgan was a fascinating man whose courage, daring and charisma inspired those who followed him. He was a forerunner to the Golden Age of Pirates. Although Graham Thomas has titled his book The Pirate King, he points out that Captain Morgan wasn’t a pirate but a privateer. Unlike pirates who attacked whomever they wanted, privateers had the authorization of the government to loot and raid the nation’s enemies. In Captain Morgan’s case, that was usually the Spanish.

Captain Morgan was based in Port Royal in Jamacia. Some of the booty he returned with from his daring raids he used to purchase plantations. He became one of the largest landowners on the island and very influential.

Captain Morgan was a hard-drinking, hard-fighting man. It was surprising for me that at this time in history, most privateer/pirate battles were raids against towns and not naval battles. Captain Morgan was one of the few men in any era who was able to transition from a successful adventurer to a successful businessman and political figure.

The governors of Jamacia had a tricky job. They had to follow the changing political tides in Britain while keeping the island's citizens happy. This involved delicate relations with the privateers, who had to be controlled yet not upset, as the island's defence often depended on them.

While there is no doubt that some people under Captain Morgan’s command used inhuman torture on their victims, there is no evidence that Captain Morgan authorized it or even knew about it. He often had several thousand men under his command and multiple ships.

Graham A. Thomas does an excellent job presenting a historical story and trying to uncover Captain Morgan’s true character. He carefully notes his sources, which ones are likely more reliable, and looks at the correspondence of the time. Mr. Thomas walks the thin line between telling an interesting story and getting bogged down in detail very well. Readers can be confident that they are getting a well-researched picture of the times.

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