Don Benito (pirate)

Last updated
Don Benito
Born
Benito Socarras Y Aguero
NationalitySpanish
Occupation Pirate
Years active1725
Piratical career
Base of operations Caribbean
CommandsSt. Francis de la Vega

Don Benito (fl. 1725, real name possibly Benito Socarras Y Aguero) was a Spanish pirate and guarda costa privateer active in the Caribbean.

Contents

History

Don Benito sailed his ship St. Francis de la Vega with a mixed crew of Spanish, French, and English sailors. He shared command with Captain Richard Holland, [1] an Irishman who had sailed with the Spanish Navy and as a privateer as early as 1718. [2] Some of his English crew had previously sailed with Edward England and Richard Taylor. They may have been from the East Indiaman Cassandra, which had been captured in the Indian Ocean by England [3] then traded to Taylor, who surrendered it to the Spanish in Panama in exchange for a pardon. [4]

Though he was commissioned by the Governor of Cuba, Don Benito sailed as far north as the Virginia Capes. [5] There in June 1724 he captured the slave ship John and Mary as well as the Prudent Hannah and Dolphin in quick succession, taking all three as prize ships. They looted the John and Mary of its slaves, rum, gold, and nearly all its supplies. [6] Confronted by the fifth-rate warship HMS Enterprise, they put their prisoners aboard the John and Mary and released it before making their getaway. Shortly afterwards, sailors whom they’d forced into service aboard the Prudent Hannah mutinied, capturing or killing the prize crew. They sailed it to New York where all but one of the privateers were tried and hanged. [7]

The Spanish Captain Benito Socarras Y Aguero is likely the same Captain known as Don Benito. He cruised the Caribbean from his base in Santo Domingo as a privateer and guarda costa. Benito Socarras Y Aguero was active for over 30 years, from King William's War through at least 1725. [8]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thomas Anstis</span>

Thomas Anstis was an early 18th-century pirate, who served under Captain Howell Davis and Captain Bartholomew Roberts, before setting up on his own account, raiding shipping on the eastern coast of the American colonies and in the Caribbean during what is often referred to as the "Golden Age of Piracy".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Evans (pirate)</span>

John Evans was a Welsh pirate who had a short but successful career in the Caribbean.

Captain John Coxon, sometimes referred to as John Coxen, was a late-seventeenth-century buccaneer who terrorized the Spanish Main. Coxon was one of the most famous of the Brethren of the Coast, a loose consortium of pirates and privateers. Coxon lived during the Buccaneering Age of Piracy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Martel (pirate)</span>

John Martel was a French pirate active in the Caribbean.

Christopher Winter was an English pirate active in the Caribbean. He is best known for sailing in Spanish service and launching the career of Edward England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Auger</span> Pirate active in the Bahamas around 1718

John Auger was a pirate active in the Bahamas around 1718. He is primarily remembered for being captured by pirate turned pirate-hunter Benjamin Hornigold.

Richard Shipton was a pirate active in the Caribbean, best known for sailing alongside Edward Low and Francis Spriggs. In 1723 Shipton was elected captain of Merry Christmas, and he subsequently captained ships such as Royal Fortune, York, and John and Mary. Forced to beach his vessel on western Cuba by pirate hunters, in early 1726, he was found ashore in his bed and presumed to have died shortly afterwards.

Brigstock Weaver was an English pirate active in the Caribbean. He is best known for his association with fellow pirates Thomas Anstis and Bartholomew Roberts.

Robert Sample was a pirate active off the coast of Africa and in the Caribbean. He is best known for sailing with Edward England.

Richard Noland was an Irish pirate active in the Caribbean. He was best known for sailing with Samuel Bellamy before working for the Spanish.

Augustin Blanco was a pirate active in the Caribbean. He was noted for attacking in open boats, and for having a mixed-race crew.

Matthew Luke was a pirate active in the Caribbean.

Simon Mascarino was a Portuguese pirate active in the Caribbean. He was also a privateer in service of the Spanish.

Jelles de Lecat was a Dutch pirate and buccaneer who sailed for and against both the English and Spanish. He served with Henry Morgan and was often called "Yellahs," "Yallahs," or “Captain Yellows.”

Philip Fitzgerald was an Irish pirate and privateer who served the Spanish in the Caribbean.

William Fox was a pirate active in the Caribbean and off the African coast. He was indirectly associated with a number of more prominent pirates such as Bartholomew Roberts, Edward England, and Richard Taylor.

Turn Joe was an Irish pirate and privateer who left English service and sailed for Spain instead as a guarda costa privateer in the Caribbean.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William Lewis (pirate)</span>

William Lewis was a pirate supposedly active in the Caribbean, off the American east coast, and off the west coast of Africa in the 18th century. He was known for sparing his victims and for being killed after announcing he had made a pact with the Devil. He is likely the fictional creation of "Captain Charles Johnson" who presented his story among those of real historical pirates.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Henry Johnson (pirate)</span>

Henry Johnson was an Irish pirate active in the Caribbean. He shared captaincy with a Spaniard, Pedro Poleas. Johnson was best known thanks to an autobiography written by a sailor he captured and marooned.

John Read was an English buccaneer, privateer, and pirate active from South America to the East Indies to the Indian Ocean.

References

  1. ↑ Little, Benerson (2005). The Sea Rover's Practice: Pirate Tactics and Techniques, 1630-1730. Washington DC: Potomac Books, Inc. ISBN   9781574889109 . Retrieved 29 September 2017.
  2. ↑ Fox, E. T. (December 2010). "Jacobitism and the Golden Age of Piracy, 1715-1725". International Journal of Maritime History. 22 (2): 277–303. doi:10.1177/084387141002200212. ISSN   0843-8714. S2CID   162372700 . Retrieved 29 September 2017.
  3. ↑ Some sources say Jasper Seagar.
  4. ↑ Gosse, Philip (1924). The Pirates' Who's Who by Philip Gosse. New York: Burt Franklin. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  5. ↑ Corbett, Theodore (2012). St. Augustine Pirates and Privateers. Charleston SC: Arcadia Publishing. ISBN   9781614236535 . Retrieved 29 September 2017.
  6. ↑ Johnson, Captain Charles (1724). A GENERAL HISTORY OF THE PYRATES. London: T. Warner. Retrieved 18 June 2017.
  7. ↑ Zuidhoek, Arne (2015). A-Z Pirate Encyclopedia: Deprived of God & Country. Utrecht: Uitgeverij Julius de Goede BV. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
  8. ↑ Marley, David (2010). Pirates of the Americas. Santa Barbara CA: ABC-CLIO. p. 767. ISBN   9781598842012 . Retrieved 29 September 2017.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.