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Peter Easton | |
|---|---|
| Peter Eston | |
| Born | c. 1570 Scotland |
| Died | c. 1620 Savoy |
| Occupation | Pirate |
| Years active | 1602–1620 |
| Piratical career | |
| Allegiance | Kingdom of England Duchy of Savoy |
| Rank | Captain |
| Base of operations | Newfoundland,Caribbean |
| Commands | Happy Adventure |
Peter Easton (c. 1570 – 1620 or after) was an Englishprivateer and laterpirate in the early 17th century. Conflicting accounts exist regarding his early life. By 1602, Easton had become a highly successful privateer, commissioned to protect English interests inNewfoundland. The 'most famous English pirate of the day', his piracies ranged from Ireland and Guinea toNewfoundland.[1][2] He is best known today for his involvement in the early English settlement of Newfoundland, including the settlements atHarbour Grace andFerryland from 1611 to 1614. One of the most successful of all pirates, he controlled such seapower that no sovereign or state could afford to ignore him, and he was never overtaken or captured by any fleet commissioned to hunt him down.[3] However, he is not as well known as some of the pirates from the late 17th and early 18th centuries.
Peter Easton, who was also known by Eston, had been a loyal servant of the English Crown. His ancestors had served in theCrusades.[citation needed] The Eastons also distinguished themselves against theSpanish Armada.[citation needed]
The Historic Rose Manor based inHarbour Grace,Newfoundland and Labrador, is in close proximity to the fort that once housed Peter and his crew[citation needed].
In 1602, Easton was in command of a convoy as aprivateer with a commission fromElizabeth I of England to protect theNewfoundland fishing fleet. During these times, fishing vessels would carry arms and small cannons to protect the valuable cargo of fish from pirates and foreign vessels. Under his commission, he could legallypress-gang local fishermen into service for him. He could also attack the ships and wharves of the enemy as much as he wished, especially the much hated Spanish. Easton's flagship wasHappy Adventure from which he flew theSaint George's Cross at the masthead.
On 23 June 1604, after Elizabeth I was succeeded byJames I, the king sued for peace with Spain and canceled all letters of commission to privateers. On hearing the news, Easton continued his attack on vessels as though nothing had changed. In so doing, he had crossed the line into piracy.
In his flagship,Happy Adventure, Easton flew theSt. George’s Cross[4] and attacked Spanish ships for gold in theWest Indies and theMediterranean Sea, while in the meantime demanding and receivingprotection money from English ships. In 1610, he blockaded theBristol Channel, effectively controlling the shipping entering and leaving the western English ports. For the most part, he was acting on behalf of the powerful family of theKilligrews fromFalmouth, Cornwall. They financed his expeditions and also took shares in his profits.
Easton arrived in theNewfoundland Colony in 1612 with ten pirate ships and had his headquarters atHarbour Grace. He raided and plundered both English and foreign vessels and the harbours of Newfoundland, press-ganging fishermen into his service along the way.
On one expedition, he plundered thirty ships inSt. John's and held SirRichard Whitbourne prisoner, releasing him on the condition that Whitbourne would go to England and obtain apardon for Easton. The pardon was granted, but by this time, Easton had moved on to theBarbary Coast to harass the Spanish.
While in Newfoundland, Easton is estimated to have taken as many as 1,500 fishermen for his ships, most voluntarily. Easton continued to protectJohn Guy's colony atCuper's Cove but did not allow him to establish another colony atRenews.
On one of his raids, Easton headed for theAzores. Stationing his fleet south and west of the islands, he planned to intercept the Spanish silver fleet. No details of the battle are known except that a few days later, Easton arrived inTunis loaded with treasure and four Spanish ships in tow.
Early in 1613 theDuke of Savoy issued a proclamation makingNice andVillefranche free ports andoffering asylum and safe conducts to all pirates. On 20 February 1613 Easton sailed into Villefranche at the head of four ships and 900 soldiers, leaving eight more vessels outside theStrait of Gibraltar. Easton met with the duke and agreed to invest 100,000 crowns in Savoy, offering to the duke a percentage of the proceeds in return for an annual income.[5] William Parkhurst, an English agent in Savoy, wrote of him:
"This Easton hath since beene with me: hee seemeth to have the age of 40 yeares: his countenance is rude and savadge (which the Duke tooke notice off), his speech and carriage is slow, subtile, and guilty..."[6]
Easton ingratiated himself with the Duke of Savoy by taking part in a raid on theDuchy of Mantua. Easton was granted a pension of £4000 a year and was sworn to faithful service, becoming a Catholic, marrying an heiress and being created aMarquis of theDuchy of Savoy. Despite this, he remained known at court as 'Il cosaro Inglese' (the English corsair).[7]
Within a month of Easton's arrival in Savoy he had dismissed most of his company. Although he took part in a Savoyard naval attack onVenice later in 1613, he commanded French crews and ships.[8] The expedition was not successful and after this Easton took little part in maritime affairs. Nevertheless, he remained in the Duke's employ till at least 1620.[9]
