Alexandre Exquemelin
Encyclopedia
Alexandre Olivier Exquemelin (also spelled Esquemeling, Exquemeling, or Oexmelin) (c. 1645-1707) was a French writer best known as the author of one of the most important sourcebooks of 17th century piracy, first published in Dutch as De Americaensche Zee-Roovers, in Amsterdam
, by Jan ten Hoorn, in 1678.
Born about 1645, it is likely that Exquemelin was a native of Harfleur
, France, who on his return from buccaneer
ing settled in Holland, possibly because he was a Huguenot
. In 1666 he was engaged by the French West India Company
and went to Tortuga, where he stayed for three years. There he enlisted with the buccaneer
s, in particular with the band of Henry Morgan
, whose confidante he was, probably as a barber-surgeon
, and remained with them until 1674. Shortly afterwards he returned to Europe and settled in Amsterdam where he qualified professionally as a surgeon, his name appearing on the 1679 register of the Dutch Surgeons' Guild. However, he was later once again in the Caribbean
as his name appears on the muster-roll as a surgeon
in the attack on Cartagena
in 1697.
The bibliographic legacy of Exquemelin's "History of the Bouccaneers of America" is complex. It has rightly been said that perhaps no book of the 17th century in any language was ever the parent of so many imitations and the source of so much fiction. The German translation, published in 1679 is a faithful translation of the original Dutch. A Spanish translation, published in 1681, however adds new material quite freely and without acknowledgment, and mistranslates the Dutch frequently, while the English translation of 1684 appears to be as much a translation of the Spanish edition, including most of its deviations from the Dutch original. The French translation of 1686, however is substantially a new work with many additions, including new pirate biographies and complete rearrangements in some sections incorporating new material of unknown source. Subsequent editions and translations added additional new material and whole biographies.
For a contemporary reprinting, see Esquemeling, Alexander O., The Buccaneers of America. A true account of the most remarkable assaults committed of late years upon the coasts of West Indies by the Buccaneers of Jamaica
and Tortuga (both English and French), containing also Basil Ringrose’s account of the dangerous voyage and bold assaults of Captain Bartholomew Sharp
and others (Dover Publications, Inc. New York
(reprinted 1967). ISBN 0-486-40966-X
Peter Benchley
, in his book The Island
, referred to Exquemelin at length, having used his work in his research.
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
, by Jan ten Hoorn, in 1678.
Born about 1645, it is likely that Exquemelin was a native of Harfleur
Harfleur
-Population:-Places of interest:* The church of St-Martin, dating from the fourteenth century.* The seventeenth century Hôtel de Ville .* Medieval ramparts * The fifteenth century museums of fishing and of archaeology and history....
, France, who on his return from buccaneer
Buccaneer
The buccaneers were privateers who attacked Spanish shipping in the Caribbean Sea during the late 17th century.The term buccaneer is now used generally as a synonym for pirate...
ing settled in Holland, possibly because he was a Huguenot
Huguenot
The Huguenots were members of the Protestant Reformed Church of France during the 16th and 17th centuries. Since the 17th century, people who formerly would have been called Huguenots have instead simply been called French Protestants, a title suggested by their German co-religionists, the...
. In 1666 he was engaged by the French West India Company
French West India Company
In the history of French trade, the French West India Company was a chartered company established in 1664. Their charter gave them the property and seignory of Canada, Acadia, the Antilles, Cayenne, and the terra firma of South America, from the Amazon to the Orinoco...
and went to Tortuga, where he stayed for three years. There he enlisted with the buccaneer
Buccaneer
The buccaneers were privateers who attacked Spanish shipping in the Caribbean Sea during the late 17th century.The term buccaneer is now used generally as a synonym for pirate...
s, in particular with the band of Henry Morgan
Henry Morgan
Admiral Sir Henry Morgan was an Admiral of the Royal Navy, a privateer, and a pirate who made a name for himself during activities in the Caribbean, primarily raiding Spanish settlements...
, whose confidante he was, probably as a barber-surgeon
Barber surgeon
The barber surgeon was one of the most common medical practitioners of medieval Europe - generally charged with looking after soldiers during or after a battle...
, and remained with them until 1674. Shortly afterwards he returned to Europe and settled in Amsterdam where he qualified professionally as a surgeon, his name appearing on the 1679 register of the Dutch Surgeons' Guild. However, he was later once again in the Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
as his name appears on the muster-roll as a surgeon
Surgery
Surgery is an ancient medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental techniques on a patient to investigate and/or treat a pathological condition such as disease or injury, or to help improve bodily function or appearance.An act of performing surgery may be called a surgical...
in the attack on Cartagena
Raid on Cartagena (1697)
The Raid on Cartagena was a successful attack by the French on the fortified city of Cartagena, Colombia, on May 6, 1697, as part of the War of the Grand Alliance....
in 1697.
The bibliographic legacy of Exquemelin's "History of the Bouccaneers of America" is complex. It has rightly been said that perhaps no book of the 17th century in any language was ever the parent of so many imitations and the source of so much fiction. The German translation, published in 1679 is a faithful translation of the original Dutch. A Spanish translation, published in 1681, however adds new material quite freely and without acknowledgment, and mistranslates the Dutch frequently, while the English translation of 1684 appears to be as much a translation of the Spanish edition, including most of its deviations from the Dutch original. The French translation of 1686, however is substantially a new work with many additions, including new pirate biographies and complete rearrangements in some sections incorporating new material of unknown source. Subsequent editions and translations added additional new material and whole biographies.
For a contemporary reprinting, see Esquemeling, Alexander O., The Buccaneers of America. A true account of the most remarkable assaults committed of late years upon the coasts of West Indies by the Buccaneers of Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
and Tortuga (both English and French), containing also Basil Ringrose’s account of the dangerous voyage and bold assaults of Captain Bartholomew Sharp
Bartholomew Sharp
Bartholomew Sharp an English buccaneer whose pirate career lasted only three years . His flagship was the Trinity....
and others (Dover Publications, Inc. New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
(reprinted 1967). ISBN 0-486-40966-X
Peter Benchley
Peter Benchley
Peter Bradford Benchley was an American author, best known for his novel Jaws and its subsequent film adaptation, the latter co-written by Benchley and directed by Steven Spielberg...
, in his book The Island
The Island (1979 novel)
The Island is a novel by Peter Benchley, published in 1979 by Doubleday & Co.-Plot summary:Blair Maynard, a divorced journalist in New York City, decides to write a story about the unexplained disappearance of yachts and other small boats in the Caribbean, hoping to debunk theories about the...
, referred to Exquemelin at length, having used his work in his research.
External links
- Works by Alexandre Exquemelin at Internet ArchiveInternet ArchiveThe Internet Archive is a non-profit digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It offers permanent storage and access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, music, moving images, and nearly 3 million public domain books. The Internet Archive...
- includes an English translation of The Bouccaneers of America. - De Americaensche Zee-Roovers (selections from the original 1678 Dutch-language copy of The Buccaneers of America, illustrated). From the Library of CongressLibrary of CongressThe Library of Congress is the research library of the United States Congress, de facto national library of the United States, and the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. Located in three buildings in Washington, D.C., it is the largest library in the world by shelf space and...
. - De Americaensche Zee-Roovers Full text of the 1678 Dutch edition, from Gallica.
- Die americanische see-räuber Full text of the 1679 German translation from the Library of Congress.
- Piratas de America Full text of the 1681 Spanish translation, from the Library of Congress.
- Histoire des avanturiers qui se sont signalez dans les Indes Full text of French translation of 1686, from Google Books.