Michael Geare
Encyclopedia
Sir Michael Geare was a 16th century English sailor, privateer and merchant. One of the many Sea Dogs
who plagued the Spanish Empire
during the Elizabethan age, Geare was well-known to the Spaniards of the West Indies and the Spanish Main
as commander of the Little John. He remained one of the most active in the region throughout the 1590s and up until his retirement in 1603.
around 1565, reportedly from a poor cockney
background. An apprentice mariner in his youth, Geare embarked on his earliest voyages with Sir George Carew
(also known as George Carey) and later Captain John Watts
with whom he would first rise to prominence between 1588 and 1591. That same year he became the captain of the Little John, one of five-ship flotilla under William Lane
and financed by Sir Frances Drake among others. Lane gave glowing accounts of Geare's bravery in battle and with whom he began to earn a small fortune from privateering and smuggling activities. Lane eventually began personally financing the Little John which was later renamed the Michael & John when he became a partner with Geare in 1592.
During the next three years, Geare would complete four successful voyages in the West Indies with the Michael & John. In 1595, an encounter with a Spanish galleon near Havana, Cuba resulted in the loss of fifty of his crew and a Spanish pinnace
he had previously captured. After making his escape, Geare was able to recoup his losses by capturing another Spanish prize before returning to England.
Commanding the Neptune the following year, he was accompanied to the Caribbean by a pinnace sailed by John Rilesden and Christopher Newport
. He and fifteen men stole the pinnace later that year and captured several prizes before arriving in Jamaica
to join a privateering expedition to Honduras
led by Sir Anthony Shirley
and Captain William Parker
. After a failed raid against Trujillo
, they turned towards Puerto Caballos and successfully captured the city. Finding little of value however, Geare decided to part company with Shirey and Parker who continued overland across the mountains of Guatemala
and to the Pacific coast.
In May 1601, while in the West Indies with David Middleton
with the pinnace James, he captured three ships while in command of the Archangel. Although he managed to bring back two of the captured ships, he lost contact with the third. Its crew eventually sailed to Morocco
where it was sold there instead. Participating in a three-ship consort with Captain Christopher Newton
the following year, he captured two Spanish warships among several others. On January 24, 1603, Geare and Christopher Newport participated in a joint Anglo-French operation when they directed eight ships during the landing of armed privateers near Santiago, Cuba. Their advance was halted by the Spanish Governor Fernando Melgarejo de Cordoba, both by a single artillery piece and stampeding a herd of cattle towards the raiders, and they were eventually forced to flee. After this last adventure, he decided to retire to Stepney
, a suburb of London
. His home, having a small dagger hung outside, gained some notoriety during his later years. Shortly after his return to England, he was bestowed a knighthood by Queen Elizabeth I. Upon his death, he left an annual allowance of five pounds to be shared among the families of those lost at sea and the indigent sailors of his native Limehouse.
Sea Dogs
Sea Dogs received mixed views from critics on its release. IGN were impressed with it, calling it "one booty call you won't want to miss". Gamespot were also positive about the game saying it's "an adventure that can be enthralling despite its many problems"....
who plagued the Spanish Empire
Spanish Empire
The Spanish Empire comprised territories and colonies administered directly by Spain in Europe, in America, Africa, Asia and Oceania. It originated during the Age of Exploration and was therefore one of the first global empires. At the time of Habsburgs, Spain reached the peak of its world power....
during the Elizabethan age, Geare was well-known to the Spaniards of the West Indies and the Spanish Main
Spanish Main
In the days of the Spanish New World Empire, the mainland of the American continent enclosing the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico was referred to as the Spanish Main. It included present-day Florida, the east shore of the Gulf of Mexico in Texas, Mexico, Central America and the north coast of...
as commander of the Little John. He remained one of the most active in the region throughout the 1590s and up until his retirement in 1603.
Biography
Michael Geare was born in LimehouseLimehouse
Limehouse is a place in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. It is on the northern bank of the River Thames opposite Rotherhithe and between Ratcliff to the west and Millwall to the east....
around 1565, reportedly from a poor cockney
Cockney
The term Cockney has both geographical and linguistic associations. Geographically and culturally, it often refers to working class Londoners, particularly those in the East End...
background. An apprentice mariner in his youth, Geare embarked on his earliest voyages with Sir George Carew
George Carew, 1st Earl of Totnes
George Carew, 1st Earl of Totnes , known as Sir George Carew between 1586 and 1605 and as The Lord Carew between 1605 and 1626, served under Queen Elizabeth I during the Tudor conquest of Ireland and was appointed President of Munster. -Early career:Carew was the son of Dr...
(also known as George Carey) and later Captain John Watts
John Watts (merchant)
Sir John Watts was an English merchant and shipowner, active in the East India Company and Virginia Company and Lord Mayor of London in 1606.-Life:...
with whom he would first rise to prominence between 1588 and 1591. That same year he became the captain of the Little John, one of five-ship flotilla under William Lane
William Lane
William Lane was a journalist, advocate of Australian labour politics and a utopian.-Early life:Lane was born in Bristol, England, eldest son of James Lane,from Ireland a Protestant Master Gardener , and his English wife Caroline, née Hall...
and financed by Sir Frances Drake among others. Lane gave glowing accounts of Geare's bravery in battle and with whom he began to earn a small fortune from privateering and smuggling activities. Lane eventually began personally financing the Little John which was later renamed the Michael & John when he became a partner with Geare in 1592.
During the next three years, Geare would complete four successful voyages in the West Indies with the Michael & John. In 1595, an encounter with a Spanish galleon near Havana, Cuba resulted in the loss of fifty of his crew and a Spanish pinnace
Pinnace (ship's boat)
As a ship's boat the pinnace is a light boat, propelled by sails or oars, formerly used as a "tender" for guiding merchant and war vessels. In modern parlance, pinnace has come to mean a boat associated with some kind of larger vessel, that doesn't fit under the launch or lifeboat definitions...
he had previously captured. After making his escape, Geare was able to recoup his losses by capturing another Spanish prize before returning to England.
Commanding the Neptune the following year, he was accompanied to the Caribbean by a pinnace sailed by John Rilesden and Christopher Newport
Christopher Newport
Christopher Newport was an English seaman and privateer. He is best known as the captain of the Susan Constant, the largest of three ships which carried settlers for the Virginia Company in 1607 on the way to find the settlement at Jamestown in the Virginia Colony, which became the first permanent...
. He and fifteen men stole the pinnace later that year and captured several prizes before arriving in 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...
to join a privateering expedition to 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...
led by Sir Anthony Shirley
Anthony Shirley
Sir Anthony Shirley was an English traveller, whose imprisonment in 1603 by King James I was an important event because it caused the British House of Commons to assert one of its privileges—freedom of its members from arrest—in a document known as The Form of Apology and Satisfaction.He was the...
and Captain William Parker
William Parker (privateer)
William Parker was an English captain, privateer & also mayor of Plymouth.He was born near Plymouth & was a member of the lesser gentry but he became one the owners of the Merchants house & later became mayor of Plymouth before becoming a privateer in the services of Queen Elizabeth...
. After a failed raid against Trujillo
Trujillo, Colón
Trujillo is a city and a municipality on the northern Caribbean coast of the Honduran department of Colón, of which the city is the capital. The municipality has a population of about 30,000 . The city is located on a bluff overlooking the Bay of Trujillo. Behind the city rise two prominent...
, they turned towards Puerto Caballos and successfully captured the city. Finding little of value however, Geare decided to part company with Shirey and Parker who continued overland across the mountains of 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...
and to the Pacific coast.
In May 1601, while in the West Indies with David Middleton
David Middleton
David Barrie Middleton is a former English cricketer. Middleton was a right-handed batsman who played primarily as a wicketkeeper...
with the pinnace James, he captured three ships while in command of the Archangel. Although he managed to bring back two of the captured ships, he lost contact with the third. Its crew eventually sailed to Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
where it was sold there instead. Participating in a three-ship consort with Captain Christopher Newton
Christopher Newton
Christopher Newton is a Canadian director and actor and served as Artistic Director of the Shaw Festival from 1980-2002.Newton was born in England and educated at Sir Roger Manwood's School in Kent, the University of Leeds, Purdue University in Indiana and the University of Illinois, where he...
the following year, he captured two Spanish warships among several others. On January 24, 1603, Geare and Christopher Newport participated in a joint Anglo-French operation when they directed eight ships during the landing of armed privateers near Santiago, Cuba. Their advance was halted by the Spanish Governor Fernando Melgarejo de Cordoba, both by a single artillery piece and stampeding a herd of cattle towards the raiders, and they were eventually forced to flee. After this last adventure, he decided to retire to Stepney
Stepney
Stepney is a district of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets in London's East End that grew out of a medieval village around St Dunstan's church and the 15th century ribbon development of Mile End Road...
, a suburb of London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. His home, having a small dagger hung outside, gained some notoriety during his later years. Shortly after his return to England, he was bestowed a knighthood by Queen Elizabeth I. Upon his death, he left an annual allowance of five pounds to be shared among the families of those lost at sea and the indigent sailors of his native Limehouse.
Further reading
- Andrews, Kenneth R. English Privateering Voyages to the West Indies, 1588-1595. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 1959.
- Bevan, Bryan. The Great Seamen of Elizabeth I. London: R. Hale, 1971.
- Davies, D.W. Elizabethans Errant: The Strange Fortunes of Sir Thomas Sherley and His Three Sons As Well As in the Dutch Wars As in Moscovy, Morocco, Spain, and the Indies. Ithaca, New York: Cornell University Press, 1967.
- Marley, David. Wars of the Americas: A Chronology of Armed Conflict in the New World, 1492 to the Present. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-CLIO, 1998. ISBN 0-87436-837-5
- Rogozinski, Jan. Pirates!: Brigands, Buccaneers, and Privateers in Fact, Fiction, and Legend. New York: Da Capo Press, 1996. ISBN 0-306-80722-X