Cornelis Jol
Encyclopedia
Cornelis Corneliszoon Jol (1597 – October 31, 1641), nicknamed Houtebeen ("pegleg"), was a 17th-Century Dutch corsair and admiral in the Dutch West India Company
during the Eighty Year's War between Spain
and the fledgling Dutch Republic
. He was one of several early buccaneers to attack Campeche
, looting the settlement in 1633, and was active against the Spanish in the Spanish Main
and throughout the Caribbean
during the 1630s and 40s.
Jol was really more of a pirate (or rather privateer
) than an admiral, raiding Spanish and Portuguese fleets and gathering large amounts of loot. He was nicknamed Houtebeen (Pé de Pau in Portuguese and Pata de Palo in Spanish), because he lost a leg during battle and got a wooden leg, being one of the earliest documented pirates to use a wooden peg leg. The Spanish also nicknamed him El Pirata.
His son, also called Cornelis Corneliszoon Jol (or Hola), pursued a career at sea as well and served as an officer in the Dutch navy. He was captain of the Leiden under admiral Maarten Tromp
during the First Anglo-Dutch War
(1652–1654).
A street in Scheveningen is named for Jol. One of his descendants named a company after him (Corneliszoon.com). Erstwhile AFC Ajax trainer Martin Jol
is also a direct descendant.
Cornelis Jol came from a simple family in the fishing village of Scheveningen, now part of The Hague
. He joined the Dutch West India Company
in 1626 and quickly climbed the ranks to become admiral. He was renowned for his courage, his skill as a navigator
and his humane treatment of prisoners of war.
Jol crossed the Atlantic Ocean
nine times to attack the Spanish and Portuguese along the coast of Brazil
and in the Caribbean
. During one of his earliest voyages, he captured the island of Fernando de Noronha
off the coast of Brazil
. However, he was soon expelled by Portuguese forces.
In 1633, he and another corsair attacked Campeche
in the Yucatán Peninsula
, then held by Spain
, with a fleet of ten ships. In 1635 he was captured near Dunkirk by Dunkirk privateers
but released. He defeated the Spanish at a battle near Cabañas, Cuba
in 1638, capturing all five enemy vessels. While attempting to capture the Spanish treasure fleet, he and Jan Lichthart
engaged in a naval battle with Spanish admiral Don Carlos Ibarra off the coast of Cuba
. In Spain, he was falsely reported to have been killed in the confrontation. He also commanded a squadron of seven ships at the Battle of the Downs
, a decisive defeat of the Spanish, in 1639.
In 1640, while awaiting the Spanish treasure fleet off Havana
, Cuba
, his fleet was caught in a hurricane and four of the ships were wrecked on the shore.
In 1640, Jol set out from Brazil
for the coast of Africa
, where he took the city of Luanda
(in Angola
) and the island of São Tomé
from the Portuguese. While on São Tomé
, he was struck by malaria
and died on October 31, 1641.
Dutch West India Company
Dutch West India Company was a chartered company of Dutch merchants. Among its founding fathers was Willem Usselincx...
during the Eighty Year's War between Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
and the fledgling Dutch Republic
Dutch Republic
The Dutch Republic — officially known as the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands , the Republic of the United Netherlands, or the Republic of the Seven United Provinces — was a republic in Europe existing from 1581 to 1795, preceding the Batavian Republic and ultimately...
. He was one of several early buccaneers to attack Campeche
Campeche, Campeche
San Francisco de Campeche is the capital city of the Mexican state of Campeche, located at,...
, looting the settlement in 1633, and was active against the Spanish in the Spanish Main
Spanish Main
In the days of the Spanish New World Empire, the mainland of the American continent enclosing the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico was referred to as the Spanish Main. It included present-day Florida, the east shore of the Gulf of Mexico in Texas, Mexico, Central America and the north coast of...
and throughout 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...
during the 1630s and 40s.
Jol was really more of a pirate (or rather privateer
Privateer
A privateer is a private person or ship authorized by a government by letters of marque to attack foreign shipping during wartime. Privateering was a way of mobilizing armed ships and sailors without having to spend public money or commit naval officers...
) than an admiral, raiding Spanish and Portuguese fleets and gathering large amounts of loot. He was nicknamed Houtebeen (Pé de Pau in Portuguese and Pata de Palo in Spanish), because he lost a leg during battle and got a wooden leg, being one of the earliest documented pirates to use a wooden peg leg. The Spanish also nicknamed him El Pirata.
His son, also called Cornelis Corneliszoon Jol (or Hola), pursued a career at sea as well and served as an officer in the Dutch navy. He was captain of the Leiden under admiral Maarten Tromp
Maarten Tromp
Maarten Harpertszoon Tromp was an officer and later admiral in the Dutch navy. His first name is also spelled as Maerten.-Early life:...
during the First Anglo-Dutch War
First Anglo-Dutch War
The First Anglo–Dutch War was the first of the four Anglo–Dutch Wars. It was fought entirely at sea between the navies of the Commonwealth of England and the United Provinces of the Netherlands. Caused by disputes over trade, the war began with English attacks on Dutch merchant shipping, but...
(1652–1654).
A street in Scheveningen is named for Jol. One of his descendants named a company after him (Corneliszoon.com). Erstwhile AFC Ajax trainer Martin Jol
Martin Jol
Maarten Cornelis "Martin" Jol is a Dutch football manager and former midfielder who currently manages Fulham in the Premier League. Jol played over 400 games during his career which included spells in the Netherlands, Germany, and England, as well as earning three caps with the Dutch national team...
is also a direct descendant.
Biography
The Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
. He joined the Dutch West India Company
Dutch West India Company
Dutch West India Company was a chartered company of Dutch merchants. Among its founding fathers was Willem Usselincx...
in 1626 and quickly climbed the ranks to become admiral. He was renowned for his courage, his skill as a navigator
Navigator
A navigator is the person on board a ship or aircraft responsible for its navigation. The navigator's primary responsibility is to be aware of ship or aircraft position at all times. Responsibilities include planning the journey, advising the Captain or aircraft Commander of estimated timing to...
and his humane treatment of prisoners of war.
Jol crossed the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
nine times to attack the Spanish and Portuguese along the coast of Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
and 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...
. During one of his earliest voyages, he captured the island of Fernando de Noronha
Fernando de Noronha
Fernando de Noronha is an archipelago of 21 islands and islets in the Atlantic Ocean, offshore from the Brazilian coast. The main island has an area of and had a population of 3,012 in the year 2010...
off the coast of Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
. However, he was soon expelled by Portuguese forces.
In 1633, he and another corsair attacked Campeche
Campeche, Campeche
San Francisco de Campeche is the capital city of the Mexican state of Campeche, located at,...
in the Yucatán Peninsula
Yucatán Peninsula
The Yucatán Peninsula, in southeastern Mexico, separates the Caribbean Sea from the Gulf of Mexico, with the northern coastline on the Yucatán Channel...
, then held by Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, with a fleet of ten ships. In 1635 he was captured near Dunkirk by Dunkirk privateers
Dunkirkers
During the Dutch Revolt the Dunkirkers or Dunkirk Privateers, were commerce raiders in the service of the Spanish Monarchy. They were also part of the Dunkirk fleet, which consequently was a part of the Spanish Monarchy's Flemish fleet ...
but released. He defeated the Spanish at a battle near Cabañas, Cuba
Cabañas, Cuba
Cabañas is a town in the Mariel municipality of the Artemisa Province, on the northeast coast in western Cuba. Prior to 1970 was a municipality of Pinar del Río Province. Cabañas bay is a harbor with industrial and fishing facilities, with an important base of the Cuban...
in 1638, capturing all five enemy vessels. While attempting to capture the Spanish treasure fleet, he and Jan Lichthart
Jan Lichthart
Jan Cornelisz Lichthart , also known as Johan or Johannes Lichthart, was a Dutch admiral in the service of the Dutch West India Company...
engaged in a naval battle with Spanish admiral Don Carlos Ibarra off the coast of Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
. In Spain, he was falsely reported to have been killed in the confrontation. He also commanded a squadron of seven ships at the Battle of the Downs
Battle of the Downs
The naval Battle of the Downs took place on 31 October 1639 , during the Eighty Years' War, and was a decisive defeat of the Spanish, commanded by Admiral Antonio de Oquendo, by the United Provinces, commanded by Lieutenant-Admiral Maarten Tromp.- Background :The entry of France in the Thirty...
, a decisive defeat of the Spanish, in 1639.
In 1640, while awaiting the Spanish treasure fleet off Havana
Havana
Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
, Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
, his fleet was caught in a hurricane and four of the ships were wrecked on the shore.
In 1640, Jol set out from Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
for the coast of Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, where he took the city of Luanda
Luanda
Luanda, formerly named São Paulo da Assunção de Loanda, is the capital and largest city of Angola. Located on Angola's coast with the Atlantic Ocean, Luanda is both Angola's chief seaport and its administrative center. It has a population of at least 5 million...
(in Angola
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
) and the island of São Tomé
São Tomé and Príncipe
São Tomé and Príncipe, officially the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe, is a Portuguese-speaking island nation in the Gulf of Guinea, off the western equatorial coast of Central Africa. It consists of two islands: São Tomé and Príncipe, located about apart and about , respectively, off...
from the Portuguese. While on São Tomé
São Tomé and Príncipe
São Tomé and Príncipe, officially the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe, is a Portuguese-speaking island nation in the Gulf of Guinea, off the western equatorial coast of Central Africa. It consists of two islands: São Tomé and Príncipe, located about apart and about , respectively, off...
, he was struck by malaria
Malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. The disease results from the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically include fever and headache, in severe cases...
and died on October 31, 1641.
Further reading
- J.B. van Overeem, 1942. De reizen naar de West van Cornelis Cornelisz. Jol, alias Kapitein Houtebeen 1626-1640.
- K. Ratelband, 1943. De expeditie van Jol naar Angola en en Sao Thomé. 30 Mei 1641-31 Oct. 1641.