Graham A. Thomas - Pirate hunter : the life of Captain Woodes Rogers

First published in Great Britain in 2008 by
PEN & SWORD MARITIME
an imprint of
Pen & Sword Books Ltd
47 Church Street
Barnsley
South Yorkshire
S70 2AS

Copyright Graham A. Thomas, 2008

ISBN 978 1 84415 808 9
eISBN 9781844682850

The right of Graham A. Thomas to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

Several illustrations in the plate section were originally published in James Polings book, The Man Who Saved Robinson Crusoe . Attempts have been made to contact the copyright holder without success. If anyone has any knowledge or information pertaining to the copyright please contact the publisher.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission from the Publisher in writing.

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Contents

The street where Rogerss house stood in Queen Square Bristol as it is today. ( Authors collection )

This photograph, taken from the centre of the square, shows the building bearing a plaque that commemorates Rogers and his house which stood in this spot. ( Authors collection )

A view of the Bristol dockyards today. Even now there are masts to be seen in a replica galleon tied up near the SS Great Britain. ( Authors collection )

Another view of the docks today: Rogerss house in Queen Square was only a short walk to the docks. Though today the masts of large sailing vessels are gone we can imagine what it must have been like. ( Authors collection )

The Duke sets sail: an illustration of the Duke leaving the docks in Bristol for the round the world voyage.

The Duke rounds the Horn: the Duke and Dutchess round Cape Horn in appalling weather in order to get into Pacific waters to plunder the Spanish vessels sailing from Manila to Acapulco.

Selkirk comes aboard: Lord Selkirk was found by Rogers stranded on Juan Fernndez Island and his rescue and subsequent story formed the basis for the famous yarn Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe.

Careening the Duke: throughout the voyage, Rogers regularly careened both the Duke and the Dutchess in order to get as much speed as possible from both the little frigates. ( Copyright by David Barlow reprinted by kind permission )

Attacking the galleon: this illustration shows the Duke in action against the first Manila ship which proved to be loaded with treasure.

Battle on the deck: snipers fire on a Spanish vessel as the Duke closes in for the capture. ( Copyright by David Barlow reprinted by kind permission )

Rogers is wounded: during the action against the Manila ship Rogers was wounded, a shot hitting him in the jaw. But while lying on the deck bleeding he continued to give orders by writing them out.

Taking the Manila ship: this illustration shows the unsuccessful attempt by Rogers to take the second, much larger Manila ship. ( Copyright by David Barlow reprinted by kind permission )

Aerial view of Fort Charlotte: this fort overlooking Nassau was rebuilt several years after Rogerss second stint as governor of the Bahamas. ( Printed by kind permission of the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism )

Another view of Fort Charlotte on New Providence Island near Nassau. ( Printed by kind permission of the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism )

Another view of Fort Charlotte, showing how it must have looked when Rogers was governor. ( Printed by kind permission of the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism )

Government House: Rogers had Government House built while he was governor of the Bahamas and this is how it looks today. ( Printed by kind permission of the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism )

A computer drawing showing what is left of the ruins of the old fort at Nassau. ( Printed by kind permission of the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism )