Anthony Knivet facts for kids
Anthony Knivet, also known as Anthony Knyvett or Antonie Knivet, was an English sailor who lived between 1591 and 1649. He had many amazing adventures! He was captured by the Portuguese in Brazil after an English expedition lost many of its crew in a battle. Knivet even lived for a while with a native Brazilian tribe. After many years, he finally returned to Britain and wrote a book about his incredible journey.
Anthony was the son of Sir Henry Knyvet from Charlton, Wiltshire. In 1591, he joined an English privateer named Thomas Cavendish. A privateer was like a sailor who was allowed by their government to attack enemy ships and towns. Cavendish was very famous at the time because he had successfully sailed all the way around the world a few years earlier.
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Anthony's Journey to Brazil
Anthony Knivet joined Thomas Cavendish on a trip to attack Portuguese areas in Brazil. Cavendish's men first raided the town of Santos. They also destroyed several Portuguese sugar plantations.
Left Behind and Captured
As they continued their journey, Anthony Knivet became very ill with frostbite in the cold Strait of Magellan. This is a serious injury caused by extreme cold. Because he was so sick, he was left behind on a remote island called Ilhabela. Nineteen other sick or rebellious men were also left with him. Soon after, the Portuguese captured Anthony. He was forced to work as a slave on a sugar plantation.
Escapes and New Adventures
Later, Anthony was given a new task. He had to travel inland and contact native people to find more slaves. But Anthony tried to escape! When that failed, he was sent back to the plantation. He then attacked his owner and ran away again.
He met a native person who had also escaped from slavery. Together, they found an indigenous Brazilian tribe of Tupí people. Anthony stayed with this tribe for nine months.
Return to Slavery and Freedom
Eventually, Anthony was traded back to the Portuguese in exchange for metal tools. He was then forced to work for the governor of Rio de Janeiro, Salvador Correia de Sá, o Velho. Anthony managed to escape again, this time to West Africa, in places like the Congo and Angola.
However, the Rio governor arranged for him to be brought back to Brazil. From there, Anthony returned with the governor to Portugal. Finally, in 1601, he made his way back home to England.
Anthony's Famous Book
When Anthony Knivet returned to England, he wrote down all his amazing adventures in a book. He sold his story to Richard Hakluyt, who then sold it to Samuel Purchas.
Purchas published a shorter version of Anthony's book in 1613. Later, in 1625, he published a more complete version. This longer book was called "The Admirable Adventures and Strange Fortunes of Master Antonie Knivet, which went with Master Thomas Candish in his Second Voyage to the South Sea, 1591." Parts of his story about Africa were also published separately in 1901.
How Accurate Was His Story?
Anthony's descriptions of Brazil are usually very accurate and believable. However, some parts of his writing about Africa have a few mistakes and things that don't quite add up. The published book also had some sections removed by Purchas. It's possible that Purchas took out these parts because he had strong feelings against Catholicism.
Life After Adventures
After all his travels, Anthony Knivet got a job at the Royal Mint. The Royal Mint is where coins are made. He became a "co-teller," which meant he helped handle money there. He got this job thanks to his uncle, Thomas Knyvet. His uncle was famous for stopping the Gunpowder Plot, a well-known plan to blow up the Parliament building.
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