Michel de Grammont
Encyclopedia
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.
in a duel. Forced to leave France
he went to Hispaniola
where he was given a French ship and served as a privateer
. His first success was the capture of a Dutch
convoy, valued at about 400,000 livres (US$4 million). On his next voyage he ran on a reef
and sank. Grammont moved to Tortuga where he bought and outfitted a new ship which he used to attack Spanish shipping. When war broke out between France and Holland in 1678, he joined a fleet under the command of Comte d'Estrées
for an abortive raid on the Dutch island of Curaçao
however, the entire fleet of 17 vessels was wrecked on the isla Aves.
In June 1678 he was made commander of the six ships and 700 men salvaged from the Las Aves Disaster. De Grammont landed his men in Spanish-held Venezuela
and captured Maracaibo
then followed the capture and plundering of several smaller towns, penetrating as far inland as Trujillo
. For the next six months the pirates plundered the entire region. This was followed by another successful raid on the Venezuelan port of La Guaira
, captured in a daring night attack, though the buccaneer
s only escaped with difficulty when attacked by a larger Spanish force.
In June of 1680, de Grammont joined forces with Thomas Paine
and a captain named Wright at Isla La Blanquilla
. Together with 50 men they successfully raided the town of Cumana
although it was defended by 2,000 Spanish soldiers. Grammont however was badly wounded by a sword and returned to Las Aves to recover.
Following his recovery, de Grammont commanded eight ships but had no success until 1682 when, at the request of the governor of Petit-Goâve, he joined Nicholas van Hoorn
to harass Spanish shipping. During this period they attacked ships which unknown to them belonged to the Dutch pirate Laurens de Graaf
, on meeting de Graaf on Bonaco Island they asked him to join them. De Graaf initially refused but later agreed.
In May 1683, de Grammont, van Hoorn and de Graaf sacked Vera Cruz
in Mexico, taking 4,000 prisoners for ransom.
In July 1685, the three also sacked the Mexican city of Campeche
but after two months of plundering the city with little result, de Grammont sent a demand for ransom to the governor who refused. De Grammont then commenced to execute prisoners as retaliation, but de Graaf stopped the executions and de Grammont parted company from his allies.
De Grammont was last seen in April 1686 sailing in the northeast direction sailing off of St.Augustine
. Although his exact fate is unknown, his ship was reported lost with all hands in a storm shortly after he set sail.
Pirate career
Chevalier de Grammont was a nobleman who came into disfavour after killing his sister's suitorCourtship
Courtship is the period in a couple's relationship which precedes their engagement and marriage, or establishment of an agreed relationship of a more enduring kind. In courtship, a couple get to know each other and decide if there will be an engagement or other such agreement...
in a duel. Forced to leave France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
he went to Hispaniola
Hispaniola
Hispaniola is a major island in the Caribbean, containing the two sovereign states of the Dominican Republic and Haiti. The island is located between the islands of Cuba to the west and Puerto Rico to the east, within the hurricane belt...
where he was given a French ship and served as 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...
. His first success was the capture of a Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
convoy, valued at about 400,000 livres (US$4 million). On his next voyage he ran on a reef
Reef
In nautical terminology, a reef is a rock, sandbar, or other feature lying beneath the surface of the water ....
and sank. Grammont moved to Tortuga where he bought and outfitted a new ship which he used to attack Spanish shipping. When war broke out between France and Holland in 1678, he joined a fleet under the command of Comte d'Estrées
Jean II d'Estrées
Jean II d'Estrées, , was a Marshal of France, and an important naval commander of Louis XIV.Jean d'Estrées was born in a noble family from Picardie...
for an abortive raid on the Dutch island of Curaçao
Curaçao
Curaçao is an island in the southern Caribbean Sea, off the Venezuelan coast. The Country of Curaçao , which includes the main island plus the small, uninhabited island of Klein Curaçao , is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands...
however, the entire fleet of 17 vessels was wrecked on the isla Aves.
In June 1678 he was made commander of the six ships and 700 men salvaged from the Las Aves Disaster. De Grammont landed his men in Spanish-held 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...
and captured Maracaibo
Maracaibo
Maracaibo is a city and municipality located in northwestern Venezuela off the western coast of the Lake Maracaibo. It is the second-largest city in the country after the national capital Caracas and the capital of Zulia state...
then followed the capture and plundering of several smaller towns, penetrating as far inland as Trujillo
Trujillo, Trujillo
Trujillo is the capital city of Trujillo State in Venezuela. About 40,000 people live in this city.Founded by one the "Conquistadores de America", Diego García de Paredes, son of Diego Garcia de Paredes , , Spanish soldier and duellist, native of Trujillo in Extremadura, Spain. This city is...
. For the next six months the pirates plundered the entire region. This was followed by another successful raid on the Venezuelan port of La Guaira
La Guaira
La Guaira is the capital city of the Venezuelan state of Vargas and the country's chief port. It was founded in 1577 as an outlet for Caracas, to the southeast. The town and the port were badly damaged during the December 1999 floods and mudslides that affected much of the region...
, captured in a daring night attack, though the 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...
s only escaped with difficulty when attacked by a larger Spanish force.
In June of 1680, de Grammont joined forces with Thomas Paine
Thomas Paine (privateer)
Thomas Paine was a colonial American privateer who, during the late 17th century, raided several Spanish settlements, including his raid with Jan Willems who together looted Rio de la Hacha in 1680 as well as driving the French out of Block Island...
and a captain named Wright at Isla La Blanquilla
Blanquilla Island
Blanquilla is an island, one of the federal dependencies of Venezuela, located in the southeastern Caribbean Sea about 182 miles northeast of Caracas. It is a popular location for divers, as well as famous for its white sand beaches, for which it is named. The island's wildlife include local cacti...
. Together with 50 men they successfully raided the town of Cumana
Cumaná
Cumaná is the capital of Venezuela's Sucre State. It is located 402 km east of Caracas. It was the first settlement founded by Europeans in the mainland America, in 1501 by Franciscan friars, but due to successful attacks by the indigenous people, it had to be refounded several times...
although it was defended by 2,000 Spanish soldiers. Grammont however was badly wounded by a sword and returned to Las Aves to recover.
Following his recovery, de Grammont commanded eight ships but had no success until 1682 when, at the request of the governor of Petit-Goâve, he joined Nicholas van Hoorn
Nicholas van Hoorn
The pirate Nicholas van Hoorn was born in Holland and died near Vera Cruz, Mexico. Nikolaas or Klaas was engaged in the Dutch merchant service from about 1655 until 1659, and then bought a vessel with his savings. With a band of reckless men whom he had enlisted, he became a terror to the...
to harass Spanish shipping. During this period they attacked ships which unknown to them belonged to the Dutch pirate Laurens de 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...
, on meeting de Graaf on Bonaco Island they asked him to join them. De Graaf initially refused but later agreed.
In May 1683, de Grammont, van Hoorn and de Graaf sacked Vera Cruz
Veracruz, Veracruz
Veracruz, officially known as Heroica Veracruz, is a major port city and municipality on the Gulf of Mexico in the Mexican state of Veracruz. The city is located in the central part of the state. It is located along Federal Highway 140 from the state capital Xalapa, and is the state's most...
in Mexico, taking 4,000 prisoners for ransom.
In July 1685, the three also sacked the Mexican city of Campeche
Campeche
Campeche is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. Located in Southeast Mexico, it is bordered by the states of Yucatán to the north east, Quintana Roo to the east, and Tabasco to the south west...
but after two months of plundering the city with little result, de Grammont sent a demand for ransom to the governor who refused. De Grammont then commenced to execute prisoners as retaliation, but de Graaf stopped the executions and de Grammont parted company from his allies.
De Grammont was last seen in April 1686 sailing in the northeast direction sailing off of St.Augustine
St. Augustine, Florida
St. Augustine is a city in the northeast section of Florida and the county seat of St. Johns County, Florida, United States. Founded in 1565 by Spanish explorer and admiral Pedro Menéndez de Avilés, it is the oldest continuously occupied European-established city and port in the continental United...
. Although his exact fate is unknown, his ship was reported lost with all hands in a storm shortly after he set sail.