Daniel Johnson (pirate)
Encyclopedia
Daniel Johnson was an English
buccaneer
who, serving under buccaneers as Moyse Van Vin and Pierre le Picard
, sailed against the Spanish during the late 17th century becoming known among the Spanish as "Johnson the Terror".
Born in Bristol, England, Johnson served as a merchant sailor for several years until his ship was captured by a Spanish warship in 1654 and was taken to Santo Domingo
where he would be held as a slave for more than three years until escaping to the French-held island of Tortuga. Reportedly embittered by his experience, he readily enlisted as a crew member under Dutch buccaneer Captain Moyse Van Vin that same year.
Johnson soon rose through the ranks and was soon promoted to chief, within two years, had become a lieutenant by 1659. However, they soon began to quarrel over the distribution of spoils, and eventually fought a duel in which Van Vin was seriously wounded.
Leaving Van Vin soon after, he signed with Pierre le Picard and later participated in Sir Henry Morgan
's expedition against Maracaibo
and Panama
in 1661. Two years later, he began attacking Spanish shipping and coastal settlements in the Bay of Honduras, burning the city of Puerto Cabello
after looting an estimated $1,500,000.
During the following year, commanding a 24-gun brig, he attacked a 56-gun Spanish galleon which had been carrying a shipment of gold from Guatemala
to Spain and, despite being outmanned and outgunned, the 900 ton vessel surrendered to Johnson after an hour of fighting. Gaining a considerable amount of notoriety following the incident, Spanish authorities offered a reward of $25,000 for his capture (one of the largest bounties ever offered at the time).
In 1666, after joining other buccaneers in pillaging the coast of Venezuela, his ship floundered near the western coast of Cuba on his return voyage to Tortuga and escaped with several others in an open boat.
After being informed of his presence in the area, the Spanish governor of Havana sent out a 15-gun brig to capture him. However, upon encountering the vessel, Johnson instead captured the Spanish brig after a fierce battle. With his crew far to small to guard the 200 captured prisoners, he supposedly had them murdered with their heads sent to the Havana governor.
After several years of evading Spanish authorities, he was finally captured by a small fleet of four Spanish men-of-war. Sustaining seventeen wounds during the battle, he was brought to Panama where he was nursed to health by physicans so he would be able to stand trial, and he was publicly hanged in the city square in 1675.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
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...
who, serving under buccaneers as Moyse Van Vin and Pierre le Picard
Pierre le Picard
Pierre le Picard was a 17th century French buccaneer. He was both an officer to l'Ollonais as well as Sir Henry Morgan, most notably taking part in his raids at Maracaibo and Panama, and may have been one of the first buccaneers to raid shipping on both the Caribbean and Pacific...
, sailed against the Spanish during the late 17th century becoming known among the Spanish as "Johnson the Terror".
Born in Bristol, England, Johnson served as a merchant sailor for several years until his ship was captured by a Spanish warship in 1654 and was taken to Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo, known officially as Santo Domingo de Guzmán, is the capital and largest city in the Dominican Republic. Its metropolitan population was 2,084,852 in 2003, and estimated at 3,294,385 in 2010. The city is located on the Caribbean Sea, at the mouth of the Ozama River...
where he would be held as a slave for more than three years until escaping to the French-held island of Tortuga. Reportedly embittered by his experience, he readily enlisted as a crew member under Dutch buccaneer Captain Moyse Van Vin that same year.
Johnson soon rose through the ranks and was soon promoted to chief, within two years, had become a lieutenant by 1659. However, they soon began to quarrel over the distribution of spoils, and eventually fought a duel in which Van Vin was seriously wounded.
Leaving Van Vin soon after, he signed with Pierre le Picard and later participated in Sir 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...
's expedition against Maracaibo
Maracaibo
Maracaibo is a city and municipality located in northwestern Venezuela off the western coast of the Lake Maracaibo. It is the second-largest city in the country after the national capital Caracas and the capital of Zulia state...
and Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
in 1661. Two years later, he began attacking Spanish shipping and coastal settlements in the Bay of Honduras, burning the city of Puerto Cabello
Puerto Cabello
Puerto Cabello is a city on the north coast of Venezuela. It is located in Carabobo State about 75 km west of Caracas. As of 2001, the city has a population of around 154,000 people. The city is the home to the largest port in the country and is thus a vital cog in the country's vast oil...
after looting an estimated $1,500,000.
During the following year, commanding a 24-gun brig, he attacked a 56-gun Spanish galleon which had been carrying a shipment of gold from Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
to Spain and, despite being outmanned and outgunned, the 900 ton vessel surrendered to Johnson after an hour of fighting. Gaining a considerable amount of notoriety following the incident, Spanish authorities offered a reward of $25,000 for his capture (one of the largest bounties ever offered at the time).
In 1666, after joining other buccaneers in pillaging the coast of Venezuela, his ship floundered near the western coast of Cuba on his return voyage to Tortuga and escaped with several others in an open boat.
After being informed of his presence in the area, the Spanish governor of Havana sent out a 15-gun brig to capture him. However, upon encountering the vessel, Johnson instead captured the Spanish brig after a fierce battle. With his crew far to small to guard the 200 captured prisoners, he supposedly had them murdered with their heads sent to the Havana governor.
After several years of evading Spanish authorities, he was finally captured by a small fleet of four Spanish men-of-war. Sustaining seventeen wounds during the battle, he was brought to Panama where he was nursed to health by physicans so he would be able to stand trial, and he was publicly hanged in the city square in 1675.