François Le Clerc | |
|---|---|
| Born | |
| Died | 1563 (1564) |
| Piratical career | |
| Nickname | "Jambe de Bois" "Pata de Palo" "Peg Leg" |
| Type | Privateer |
| Years active | ?–1563 |
| Base of operations | Saint Lucia |
François orFrancis Le Clerc (died 1563), also known as"Jambe de Bois" ("Peg Leg"), was a 16th-century Frenchprivateer, originally fromNormandy. He is credited as the first pirate in the modern era to have a "peg leg".
He was often the first to board an enemy vessel during an attack or raid. It was this brazen style that eventually caused him to suffer the loss of a leg and severe damage to one arm while fighting the English atGuernsey in 1549. Although many pirates would have had their careers ended by such an injury, Le Clerc refused to retire and instead expanded the scope of his piracy by financing the voyages and attacks of other pirates as well.
Despite his wounds, Le Clerc led major raids against the Spanish, who nicknamed him"Pata de Palo" ("Peg Leg"). In 1553, he assumed overall command of seven pirate craft and three royal vessels, the latter commanded by himself,Jacques de Sores and Robert Blundel. This same year he attacked the port ofSanta Cruz de La Palma, in theCanary Islands, which he looted and set on fire, destroying a large number of buildings.
This strong fleet raidedSan Germán inPuerto Rico and methodically looted the ports of Hispaniola and Cuba from south to north, stealing hides and cannon as they traveled. They sackedSantiago de Cuba in 1554,[1] occupied it for a month, and left with 80,000 pesos in treasure. So completely devastated was Cuba's first capital that it was soon completely eclipsed by Havana and never recovered its former prosperity.
Richer booty was taken on the return voyage as the corsairs plunderedLas Palmas onGrand Canary Island and captured aGenoesecarrack.
He and his crew of 330 men were the first Europeans to settle the island ofSaint Lucia, and used the nearbyPigeon Island to target Spanish treasure galleons.[2]
In 1560, while awaiting aSpanish treasure fleet carrying a cargo of bullion, he caused a great deal of damage to settlements along the coast ofPanama.
In April 1562,Protestants in several Norman cities rebelled against their Roman Catholic king. QueenElizabeth I of England dispatched British troops to occupyLe Havre until June 1563. Le Clerc joined the English invaders and ravaged French shipping. In March 1563, he asked for a large pension as a reward for his actions. Wounded in his pride when Elizabeth turned down his request, he sailed for theAzores Islands. He was killed there in 1563, while hunting down Spanish treasure ships.
