Christopher Winter

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For the sleep researcher, see W. Christopher Winter. For the English artist, see Christopher Winter (artist).
Christopher Winter
NationalityEngland
Years active1716–1723
Known forLaunching the career of Edward England
Piratical career
AllegianceSpain
Base of operationsCaribbean

Christopher Winter (fl. 1716–1723) was an English pirate active in the Caribbean. He is best known for sailing in Spanish service and launching the career of Edward England.

History[]

Winter was active in the Nassau, Bahamas area in 1716.[1] The following year King George offered a pardon to all pirates who surrendered within a year. Winter kept active, capturing a merchant ship near Jamaica and forcing one of its crewmen, Edward England, into piracy.[2] England embraced piracy and Winter returned with him to the Republic of Pirates on New Providence.[3]

Finally electing not to accept the pardon,[4] Winter sailed with Nicholas Brown to Cuba where they converted to Catholicism and signed on as guarda costa privateers with the Spanish.[5] Winter began attacking English ships and settlements off Jamaica, raiding them for slaves which he took back to Cuba. Governor Nicholas Lawes of Jamaica complained to Spanish officials in Trinidad and Cuba and even sent the warship to demand the return of Winter, Brown, and the ships and slaves they’d captured.[6] The Spanish sheltered Winter and Brown, claiming “as for those English Fugitives you mention, they are here as other Subjects of our Lord the King, being brought voluntarily to our holy Catholick Faith, and have received the Water of Baptism.”[6]

Winter is recorded as active in Spanish service through 1723;[7] despite being called among “the most notorious rogues and renegades of all,”[8] his further activities are not known, and he “otherwise remains a footnote in history.”[3]

See also[]

  • Charles Vane, Edward England’s captain after leaving Winter, and who also reneged on the King’s pardon

References[]

  1. ^ Cordingly, David (2013). Under the Black Flag: The Romance and the Reality of Life Among the Pirates. New York: Random House Publishing Group. ISBN 9780307763075. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
  2. ^ Gosse, Philip (1924). The Pirates' Who's Who by Philip Gosse. New York: Burt Franklin. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  3. ^ a b Konstam, Angus; Kean, Roger Michael (2007). Pirates: Predators of the Seas. New York: Skyhorse Publishing Inc. ISBN 9781602390355. Retrieved 13 September 2017.
  4. ^ Gosse claims Winter did accept the pardon, but reneged on it and served Spain anyway.
  5. ^ Woodard, Colin (2008). The Republic of Pirates: Being the True and Surprising Story of the Caribbean Pirates and the Man Who Brought Them Down. Orlando FL: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. ISBN 978-0547415758.
  6. ^ a b Johnson, Captain Charles (1724). A GENERAL HISTORY OF THE PYRATES. London: T. Warner. Retrieved 18 June 2017.
  7. ^ Selinger, Gail; Smith Jr, W. Thomas (2006). The Complete Idiot's Guide to Pirates. New York: Penguin. p. 270. ISBN 9781592573769. Retrieved 13 September 2017.
  8. ^ Earle, Peter (2003). The Pirate Wars. New York: Macmillan. ISBN 9780312335793.


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