Philippe Bequel
Encyclopedia
Philippe Bequel was a 17th century French privateer
.
Possibly born in La Rochelle, France, Bequel may have served under privateers Mathurin Gabaret and François Beaulieu during the 1650s and, by the end of the decade, he had become captain of his own ship. Operating from the port of Cagway (later renamed Port Royal
after its capture by the British several years later), Bequel was granted permission by Governor D' Oyley to attack Spanish shipping on 13 December 1659.
At the request of Deschamps of Rausset, Bequel would use the small island colony of Tortoise
as a base of operations until shortly after the British capture of Jamaica
. Arriving at Port Royal in late 1663, he would later become one of the first foreign privateers to receive a letter of marque
by the colonial governor of Jamaica.
During his privateering career, he may have sailed with François l'Ollonais
in his less than successful raids against Honduras
and Nicaragua
during 1667 and 1668. He was reportedly based at Tortoise or along the coast of Santo Domingo
during the late-1660s and later served as a pilot for a royal marine squadron under the command Vice Admiral
Count Jean d' Estrées while in the Antilles
in 1669. The following year, at the request of d' Estrées, he and Moïse Vauquelin
wrote a report detailing their raids against Honduras and Yucatán.
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...
.
Possibly born in La Rochelle, France, Bequel may have served under privateers Mathurin Gabaret and François Beaulieu during the 1650s and, by the end of the decade, he had become captain of his own ship. Operating from the port of Cagway (later renamed Port Royal
Port Royal
Port Royal was a city located at the end of the Palisadoes at the mouth of the Kingston Harbour, in southeastern Jamaica. Founded in 1518, it was the centre of shipping commerce in the Caribbean Sea during the latter half of the 17th century...
after its capture by the British several years later), Bequel was granted permission by Governor D' Oyley to attack Spanish shipping on 13 December 1659.
At the request of Deschamps of Rausset, Bequel would use the small island colony of Tortoise
Tortoise
Tortoises are a family of land-dwelling reptiles of the order of turtles . Like their marine cousins, the sea turtles, tortoises are shielded from predators by a shell. The top part of the shell is the carapace, the underside is the plastron, and the two are connected by the bridge. The tortoise...
as a base of operations until shortly after the British capture 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...
. Arriving at Port Royal in late 1663, he would later become one of the first foreign privateers to receive a letter of marque
Letter of marque
In the days of fighting sail, a Letter of Marque and Reprisal was a government licence authorizing a person to attack and capture enemy vessels, and bring them before admiralty courts for condemnation and sale...
by the colonial governor of Jamaica.
During his privateering career, he may have sailed with François l'Ollonais
François l'Ollonais
Jean-David Nau , better known as François l'Olonnais , was a French pirate, active in the Caribbean during the 1660s...
in his less than successful raids against Honduras
Honduras
Honduras is a republic in Central America. It was previously known as Spanish Honduras to differentiate it from British Honduras, which became the modern-day state of Belize...
and Nicaragua
Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
during 1667 and 1668. He was reportedly based at Tortoise or along the coast of 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...
during the late-1660s and later served as a pilot for a royal marine squadron under the command Vice Admiral
Vice Admiral
Vice admiral is a senior naval rank of a three-star flag officer, which is equivalent to lieutenant general in the other uniformed services. A vice admiral is typically senior to a rear admiral and junior to an admiral...
Count Jean d' Estrées while in the Antilles
Antilles
The Antilles islands form the greater part of the West Indies in the Caribbean Sea. The Antilles are divided into two major groups: the "Greater Antilles" to the north and west, including the larger islands of Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola , and Puerto Rico; and the smaller "Lesser Antilles" on the...
in 1669. The following year, at the request of d' Estrées, he and Moïse Vauquelin
Moise Vauquelin
Moise Vauquelin or Moses Vanclein was a 17th century French buccaneer. During his four-year career as a privateer, he served as an officer under l'Ollonais and formed a brief partnership with Pierre Le Picard...
wrote a report detailing their raids against Honduras and Yucatán.