John Clipperton
Encyclopedia
John Clipperton was an English
pirate and privateer
who fought against the Spanish
in the 18th century. He used Clipperton Island
as his base for his raids on shipping.
, Norfolk
in 1676, into a family of seafarers. In his younger days he sailed all the seas of Europe, made one trip to the West Indies and one around the world. He was an able pilot and seaman, but also a man with faults. He was a blunt, rough, free-spoken sailor
. He definitely was no gentleman, but at times tried to be one. Rash fits of rage would befall him, but he was soon appeased. Then he would be ready to repair any injustice that he had committed in the heat of anger—at least if this was possible.
. Dampier had appointed Clipperton as a captain of one of the Spanish ships he had taken as a prize. This first voyage of Clipperton did not proceed well. He led a mutiny against Dampier, and was later taken captive by the Spaniards. The Marquis
of Villa Roche, who later governed Panama
, treated him with much indifference. He returned home in 1712 after four years of captivity.
It was, however, during this journey, that he is said to have discovered Clipperton Island
. He was later to use the island as a hideout.
of the Speedwell.
In his activities attacking Spanish targets on the west coast of the Americas, he used Clipperton Island
as a base from which to stage his attacks and store loot and supplies, fortifying Clipperton Rock and expanding its cave network.
On the voyage around the Cape, he dallied in the islands there hoping that the Speedwell, which had been separated from the Success in a North Atlantic storm, would catch up. When the Success departed the area, Clipperton left two men marooned as punishment on Juan Fernandez island which Alexander Selkirk
(who was the basis of the Robinson Crusoe
story) had been marooned on years before.
, in 1719. By that time Clipperton had become an able and diligent captain, but he was still unable to control his rash temper. In 1718, a group of London Merchants, the 'Gentleman Venturers' had financed a privateering expedition in expectation of the outbreak of the War of the Quadruple Alliance
, with a commission to cruise against the Spanish in the South Sea. Clipperton in the Success journeyed to the South Seas with the Speedwell, Captain George Shelvocke, Clipperton having replaced Shelvocke as overall commander of the expedition before the two ships left Plymouth in February 1719. The two ships lost each other shortly after setting sail in a storm out from the Bay of Biscay and did not meet up again until nearly two years later in the Pacific.
Clipperton sailed right around South America, raiding Spanish shipping. He captured his old enemy the Marquis of Villa Roche, whom he treated with much respect. Later, his travels carried him to Mexico
and to Macau
, where he stayed as his health deteriorated. He then sailed to Batavia
(now Jakarta) in Dutch Indonesia, finally returning to his family in Galway
in Ireland
in June 1722. He died a week after returning home.
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...
pirate and 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...
who fought against the Spanish
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...
in the 18th century. He used Clipperton Island
Clipperton Island
Clipperton Island is an uninhabited nine-square-kilometre coral atoll in the eastern Pacific Ocean, southwest of Mexico and west of Central America, at...
as his base for his raids on shipping.
Early life and personality
John Clipperton was born in Great YarmouthGreat Yarmouth
Great Yarmouth, often known to locals as Yarmouth, is a coastal town in Norfolk, England. It is at the mouth of the River Yare, east of Norwich.It has been a seaside resort since 1760, and is the gateway from the Norfolk Broads to the sea...
, Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
in 1676, into a family of seafarers. In his younger days he sailed all the seas of Europe, made one trip to the West Indies and one around the world. He was an able pilot and seaman, but also a man with faults. He was a blunt, rough, free-spoken sailor
Sailor
A sailor, mariner, or seaman is a person who navigates water-borne vessels or assists in their operation, maintenance, or service. The term can apply to professional mariners, military personnel, and recreational sailors as well as a plethora of other uses...
. He definitely was no gentleman, but at times tried to be one. Rash fits of rage would befall him, but he was soon appeased. Then he would be ready to repair any injustice that he had committed in the heat of anger—at least if this was possible.
First privateer expedition
In 1704 he sailed with the expedition of captain William DampierWilliam Dampier
William Dampier was an English buccaneer, sea captain, author and scientific observer...
. Dampier had appointed Clipperton as a captain of one of the Spanish ships he had taken as a prize. This first voyage of Clipperton did not proceed well. He led a mutiny against Dampier, and was later taken captive by the Spaniards. The Marquis
Marquis
Marquis is a French and Scottish title of nobility. The English equivalent is Marquess, while in German, it is Markgraf.It may also refer to:Persons:...
of Villa Roche, who later governed 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...
, treated him with much indifference. He returned home in 1712 after four years of captivity.
It was, however, during this journey, that he is said to have discovered Clipperton Island
Clipperton Island
Clipperton Island is an uninhabited nine-square-kilometre coral atoll in the eastern Pacific Ocean, southwest of Mexico and west of Central America, at...
. He was later to use the island as a hideout.
History of Clipperton Island
Clipperton later became captain of the Success under a different privateering syndicate, in which he also held under his command Captain George ShelvockeGeorge Shelvocke
Captain George Shelvocke was an English privateer who wrote a famous 1723 book based on his exploits, A Voyage Round the World By Way of The Great South Sea....
of the Speedwell.
In his activities attacking Spanish targets on the west coast of the Americas, he used Clipperton Island
Clipperton Island
Clipperton Island is an uninhabited nine-square-kilometre coral atoll in the eastern Pacific Ocean, southwest of Mexico and west of Central America, at...
as a base from which to stage his attacks and store loot and supplies, fortifying Clipperton Rock and expanding its cave network.
On the voyage around the Cape, he dallied in the islands there hoping that the Speedwell, which had been separated from the Success in a North Atlantic storm, would catch up. When the Success departed the area, Clipperton left two men marooned as punishment on Juan Fernandez island which Alexander Selkirk
Alexander Selkirk
Alexander Selkirk was a Scottish sailor who spent four years as a castaway when he was marooned on an uninhabited island. It is probable that his travels provided the inspiration for Daniel Defoe's novel Robinson Crusoe....
(who was the basis of the Robinson Crusoe
Robinson Crusoe
Robinson Crusoe is a novel by Daniel Defoe that was first published in 1719. Epistolary, confessional, and didactic in form, the book is a fictional autobiography of the title character—a castaway who spends 28 years on a remote tropical island near Trinidad, encountering cannibals, captives, and...
story) had been marooned on years before.
Second expedition
Much more is known about Clipperton‘s second voyage to the Pacific OceanPacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
, in 1719. By that time Clipperton had become an able and diligent captain, but he was still unable to control his rash temper. In 1718, a group of London Merchants, the 'Gentleman Venturers' had financed a privateering expedition in expectation of the outbreak of the War of the Quadruple Alliance
War of the Quadruple Alliance
The War of the Quadruple Alliance was a result of the ambitions of King Philip V of Spain, his wife, Elisabeth Farnese, and his chief minister Giulio Alberoni to retake territories in Italy and to claim the French throne. It saw the defeat of Spain by an alliance of Britain, France, Austria , and...
, with a commission to cruise against the Spanish in the South Sea. Clipperton in the Success journeyed to the South Seas with the Speedwell, Captain George Shelvocke, Clipperton having replaced Shelvocke as overall commander of the expedition before the two ships left Plymouth in February 1719. The two ships lost each other shortly after setting sail in a storm out from the Bay of Biscay and did not meet up again until nearly two years later in the Pacific.
Clipperton sailed right around South America, raiding Spanish shipping. He captured his old enemy the Marquis of Villa Roche, whom he treated with much respect. Later, his travels carried him to Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
and to Macau
Macau
Macau , also spelled Macao , is, along with Hong Kong, one of the two special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China...
, where he stayed as his health deteriorated. He then sailed to Batavia
Jakarta
Jakarta is the capital and largest city of Indonesia. Officially known as the Special Capital Territory of Jakarta, it is located on the northwest coast of Java, has an area of , and a population of 9,580,000. Jakarta is the country's economic, cultural and political centre...
(now Jakarta) in Dutch Indonesia, finally returning to his family in Galway
Galway
Galway or City of Galway is a city in County Galway, Republic of Ireland. It is the sixth largest and the fastest-growing city in Ireland. It is also the third largest city within the Republic and the only city in the Province of Connacht. Located on the west coast of Ireland, it sits on the...
in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
in June 1722. He died a week after returning home.