John Martel (pirate)
Encyclopedia
John Martel, sometimes called James Martel, was a Jamaican pirate captain.
Martel is believed to have been a privateer
during the War of the Spanish Succession
. After the war, like many other privateers, he turned to piracy
. He was considered ruthless even by his own men, who claimed that he had killed the entire crew of one merchant ship he captured.
In September 1716, Martel plundered shipping off Jamaica, using an 8-gun sloop. Sailing northward to Cuba, he captured the logwood freighter John and Martha and adapted her for piracy, cutting down her afterdeck and fitting her with 22 guns. The pirates then sailed toward the Mona Passage, and at some point en route, Martel was deposed as captain, his men replacing him with a pirate named Kennedy. Martel continued with the crew, in command of his original sloop, while Kennedy commanded the John and Martha.
The pirates stopped at Santa Cruz to careen and clean their vessels in January 1717. They were surprised there by HMS Scarborough, and the pirates were compelled to flee and abandon their ships. Martel's ultimate fate is unknown.
Martel is believed to have been a 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...
during the War of the Spanish Succession
War of the Spanish Succession
The War of the Spanish Succession was fought among several European powers, including a divided Spain, over the possible unification of the Kingdoms of Spain and France under one Bourbon monarch. As France and Spain were among the most powerful states of Europe, such a unification would have...
. After the war, like many other privateers, he turned to piracy
Piracy
Piracy is an act of robbery or criminal violence at sea. The term can include acts committed on land, in the air, or in other major bodies of water or on a shore. It does not normally include crimes committed against persons traveling on the same vessel as the perpetrator...
. He was considered ruthless even by his own men, who claimed that he had killed the entire crew of one merchant ship he captured.
In September 1716, Martel plundered shipping off Jamaica, using an 8-gun sloop. Sailing northward to Cuba, he captured the logwood freighter John and Martha and adapted her for piracy, cutting down her afterdeck and fitting her with 22 guns. The pirates then sailed toward the Mona Passage, and at some point en route, Martel was deposed as captain, his men replacing him with a pirate named Kennedy. Martel continued with the crew, in command of his original sloop, while Kennedy commanded the John and Martha.
The pirates stopped at Santa Cruz to careen and clean their vessels in January 1717. They were surprised there by HMS Scarborough, and the pirates were compelled to flee and abandon their ships. Martel's ultimate fate is unknown.