corsair91
Sailing Master
Posts: 8186
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 Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2024 12:50 am Post subject: Miguel Enríquez (privateer) |
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Miguel Enríquez (privateer)
Known as “The Grand Archvillain” Don Miguel Enriquez was a famous
Puerto Rican entrepreneur, pirate hunter, pirate, and privateer during the
early 18th century.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miguel_Enr%C3%ADquez_(privateer)
https://military-history.fandom.com/wiki/Miguel_Henr%C3%ADquez
Don Miguel Henríquez also spelled Enriquez
Privateer from San Juan, Puerto Rico,
recruited to defend Puerto Rico, then a part of the Spanish Empire,
and commanded a small fleet that intercepted foreign merchant
ships and other vessels dedicated to contraband.
His fleet was credited with controlling the proliferation of buccaneers in the region, considered a pirate himself by the enemies of Spain.
After some time operating independently,
Enríquez received a letter of marque and reprisal from the Spanish Crown,
as a privateer.
Corsairs from Puerto Rico were often called guardacostas, or
"coast guards".
Enríquez became the top privateer in Puerto Rico
and the wealthiest man on the island.
Between 1702 and 1713 Enríquez owned a fleet of more than
thirty vessels, losing at least a dozen and capturing more than twenty others.
By the time that his career was over, he had reportedly commanded
a fleet of over 300 privateer ships, of which approximately 150
were lost, employing close to 1,500 sailors.
He was charged with smuggling and stripped of all his power and
wealth by the government.
The charges of smuggling made by the Spanish government
were eventually dropped.
Last edited by corsair91 on Wed Feb 21, 2024 1:12 am; edited 3 times in total |
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