10 Real Pirates Of The Caribbean More Bad-Ass Than Jack Sparrow
3. Sir Henry Morgan - Hero, Villain, Legend
As a man said to have authored the sacred 'Code' of Pirates of the Caribbean, Sir Henry Morgan's reputation as an esteemed and skilled pirate rises above his contemporaries. After a successful career of privateering under his uncle, the governor of Jamaica, Morgan was granted a fleet of 10 ships and five hundred men to capture Puerto Principe, later capturing Portobelo. His successful career against the Spanish strongholds of the Spanish Maine garnered Sir Henry a reputation as a feared pirate. Indeed, he was initially only considered a pirate by the Spanish Crown for years, until a mishap, or perhaps an incident of misinformation, resulted in his accidental violation of the 1670 Treaty of Madrid. As Spain and England sued for peace, Sir Henry's sacking of Panama city threatened to unravel the hard-won peace. In a raid that resulted in many Spanish casualties and far less plunder than expected, Sir Henry was branded a pirate, ordered arrested by King Charles II and sent as a prisoner to England. Yet, he was never imprisoned or punished, but instead soon became a hero after war began again with Spain. He was knighted in 1673, and named lieutenant governor of Jamaica, where he spent the rest of his days, even becoming acting governor from 168082. Sir Henry also provided the inspiration for Captain Morgan's spiced rum and John Steinback's 'A Cup Of Gold'.
