History is full of people who were just plain rotten. Dig deep enough, and even the good ones have feet mired in the muck of misdeeds. Any visit to the cemetery will turn up elaborate monuments to rotten people who hid behind resectability. You know, the church’s deacons, the Masters of their lodges, respected business people who were charitable at Christmas, or venerated saints – relics anyone!
Let’s shift our admiration to a character who was not just a rogue but an outright and honest one. I present to you Sir Henry Morgan, the Scourge of Panama, the Governor of Jamaica, and an all-around bad boy. What sets Morgan apart is his clever use of legal fiction, a letter of Marque and Reprisal, to justify his actions. These documents transformed acts that would typically be considered piracy into Privateering, a perfectly legal endeavor!
Is there some particular reason I propose Morgan? It wouldn’t be that an ancestor was a mate on one of his ships. Of course not. OK, the Robinson side of the family landed on Providence Island as part of the contingency Morgan left to hold the island while en route to the Sacking of Panama.
I am who I am, thanks to Sir Henry Morgan. And remember, I don’t like rude comments about my ancestors being pirates. They were privateers—Gentlemen of Fortune!
We’ll meet all insults with marooning and the black spot! Arrgh.
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There was a famous Kennedy pirate. His Jolly Roger was a naked man with a sword held in the air. He was pretty bad at being a pirate, uh, er, privateer. If I remember right he was hung in Scotland.
I’ve seen the flag…gee Martha, I knew there was something special about you. You be smart as paint! Ayyy.
Arrrrrrrrrrgggghhhh!