Jacques Tavernier
Encyclopedia
Jacques Tavernier or Le Lyonnais (1625–1673) was a French
privateer
and buccaneer
supposedly active in the Caribbean
during the mid-17th century. His existence has since been disputed among modern historians as little to no pre-19th century evidence exists prior to his entry in Appleton's Cyclopedia in 1889. He first arrived in the West Indies as a member of French privateering expeditions in the Gulf of Mexico
and later became a buccaneer when hostilities ceased between France and Spain. Tavernier served under numerous buccaneers including Laurent van Graaf
, Michel de Grandmount
, Jacques Nau, Pierre le Picard
and Sir Henry Morgan among others in his career, however he himself did not rise to command his own command largely due to his illiteracy.
Around 1664, Tavernier was captain of the 12-gun Le Perle and successfully raided the coasts of Venezuela
, Panama
, Cuba
and Mexico
. He also took part in the capture in Maricaibo in 1666, Porto Bello
in 1667 and Morgan's raid against Panama in 1671. He and Bradley attacked Spanish shipping in the Bay of Honduras during this time.
While returning from a recent voyage in 1673, Tavernier encountered two Spanish men-of-war. One of these ships took fire early in the fight and was forced to head for the coast while the other was boarded by Tavernier and his men. They had nearly captured the vessel when a sudden squall broke the cables holding the two ships together and trapping the buccaneers. Finding themselves unable to retreat to their own ship, they chose to continue fighting. When Tavernier was severely wounded, the crew lost their will to fight and eventually surrendered. The dying captain was taken to nearby Havana
where he was convicted of piracy and was publicly executed.
French people
The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...
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...
and 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...
supposedly active 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 the mid-17th century. His existence has since been disputed among modern historians as little to no pre-19th century evidence exists prior to his entry in Appleton's Cyclopedia in 1889. He first arrived in the West Indies as a member of French privateering expeditions in the Gulf of Mexico
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
and later became a buccaneer when hostilities ceased between France and Spain. Tavernier served under numerous buccaneers including Laurent van Graaf
Laurens de Graaf
Laurens Cornelis Boudewijn de Graaf Laurens Cornelis Boudewijn de Graaf Laurens Cornelis Boudewijn de Graaf (ca. 1653, Dordrecht, Dutch Republic – probably 24 May 1704, Cap-Français, Saint-Domingue, alias Laurencillo/Lorencillo & El Griffe (Spanish); Sieur de Baldran, alias de Graff (French); or...
, Michel de Grandmount
Michel de Grammont
Michel de Grammont was a French pirate. He was born in Paris, France and was lost at sea, north-east Caribbean, April 1686. His pirate career was from c.1670 - 1686. His flagship was the Hardi.-Pirate career:...
, Jacques Nau, 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...
and Sir Henry Morgan among others in his career, however he himself did not rise to command his own command largely due to his illiteracy.
Around 1664, Tavernier was captain of the 12-gun Le Perle and successfully raided the coasts of Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
, 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...
, 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...
and 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...
. He also took part in the capture in Maricaibo in 1666, Porto Bello
Porto Bello
Porto Bello was the hunting lodge of the last Royal Governor of the British Colony of Virginia, John Murray, 4th Earl of Dunmore. Dunmore fled to Porto Bello to escape the early stages of the American Revolution in Williamsburg, Virginia...
in 1667 and Morgan's raid against Panama in 1671. He and Bradley attacked Spanish shipping in the Bay of Honduras during this time.
While returning from a recent voyage in 1673, Tavernier encountered two Spanish men-of-war. One of these ships took fire early in the fight and was forced to head for the coast while the other was boarded by Tavernier and his men. They had nearly captured the vessel when a sudden squall broke the cables holding the two ships together and trapping the buccaneers. Finding themselves unable to retreat to their own ship, they chose to continue fighting. When Tavernier was severely wounded, the crew lost their will to fight and eventually surrendered. The dying captain was taken to nearby 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...
where he was convicted of piracy and was publicly executed.