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Christopher NewportEnglish sailor, explorer and pirate.
Date of Birth: 12.1561Год
Country:  Great Britain |
Content:
Biography of Christopher Newport
Christopher Newport was an English sailor, explorer, and pirate. He gained fame as a privateer through his expeditions in the West Indies and was recognized as the greatest navigator of his time.
Youth and Early Voyages
Newport was born around 1560 in Limehouse. In his youth, he joined a ship as an ordinary seaman and participated in Francis Drake's expedition to Cadiz. According to some researchers, he may have also been involved in battles against the Spanish Armada. In 1590, already serving as a ship captain, Newport set sail for the West Indies. During the journey, he encountered a galleon from the Silver Fleet that had escaped a naval fleet. Newport attempted to attack the galleon but failed, losing his right hand in the battle. In early 1591, Newport embarked on another expedition to the West Indies, leading two small ships. He returned to England with a prize ship.
Most Successful Voyage to the West Indies
In the beginning of the following year, Newport set sail for the West Indies with a fleet of four ships. The English captured a massive Dutch slave ship, freed the slaves, and seized a Spanish frigate. The next day, they captured two more Spanish ships. The privateers then turned to plundering Spanish settlements, raiding the town of Ocoa. They proceeded to the island of Gonave, where they attempted to raid the settlement of La Yaguana. Although the settlers repelled the first attack, they were unprepared for the second, and the English not only plundered that settlement but also a neighboring one. Newport then sailed to the Gulf of Honduras, where they captured three or four Spanish frigates. The remaining ships hastily abandoned nearby harbors and ports, and the coastal residents fled further inland. The English marauded in the Puerto de Cavallos harbor for a whole day, finding several tons of mercury, a large amount of iron, cloth, and other types of fabric, provisions, and money. After loading the goods onto the ships, they headed towards Trujillo. However, the fortified artillery prevented them from approaching the fortress and the ships in the harbor.
Newport sent part of the fleet back to England and continued sailing with the remaining ships. After capturing a Spanish ship with supplies, he crossed the Atlantic and reached the Azores. There, he joined forces with John Burrough's squadron to capture the enormous Portuguese carrack Madre de Deus. After a fierce battle, Burrough entrusted Newport with the task of delivering the carrack for sale in England. Eight and a half months later, Newport returned to England.
