Cyprian Southack facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cyprian Southack
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| Born | 1662 London |
| Died | 27 March, 1745 (aged 82–83) Boston |
| Allegiance | Plymouth Colony (England) |
| Service/ |
Plymouth Colony Militia |
| Rank | Captain |
| Battles/wars | King William's War
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| Other work | representative |
Cyprian Southack (born 1662, died 1745) was an English mapmaker and a leader in the colonial navy. He was known for creating very accurate maps of the coast of North America. Southack led the Province Galley, which was Massachusetts' main navy ship for many years. He also commanded the first navy ship of Nova Scotia, the William Augustus.
Contents
Cyprian Southack was born in London, England. His father was a captain in the British Navy. In the 1680s, Southack moved to New England. There, he became known for his excellent sailing skills and for making detailed maps. His maps of the northeastern North American coast were some of the best of his time.
During King William's War in the 1690s, Southack worked as a privateer. This meant he was allowed by the government to attack enemy ships. Later, the Province of Massachusetts Bay hired him to be the captain of their armed ship, the Province Galley.
Role in Queen Anne's War
Southack played an important part in Queen Anne's War. He helped protect present-day Portland, Maine from attacks. He also joined Benjamin Church's raids in Acadia in 1704. Southack was involved in the attacks on Port Royal in Nova Scotia in 1707 and 1710.
In 1711, Admiral Hovenden Walker asked Southack to guide his fleet up the Saint Lawrence River for an expedition to Quebec. Southack said no, explaining he did not know the river well enough. Walker's expedition later faced a disaster, losing many ships and over 800 lives near the Saint Lawrence River.
The Whydah Shipwreck
In 1717, a huge storm hit Cape Cod. It destroyed the Whydah Gally, a famous pirate ship led by Samuel "Black Sam" Bellamy. The Whydah was originally a slave ship built in London. Pirates captured it in 1717. Bellamy, said to be the richest pirate in the Western Hemisphere, was sailing near Cape Cod when the storm struck. The ship crashed into sandbars and broke apart.
News of the shipwreck and nine survivors quickly reached Governor Samuel Shute of Massachusetts Bay Colony. Governor Shute immediately sent Cyprian Southack to the wreck site. Southack's orders were to find anything valuable and take back items that local people might have taken.
Southack wrote in his journal and in letters to the governor that the local community did not cooperate. He even had to pay the bill for burying 102 bodies that washed ashore. Southack told the governor that strong storms and dangerous waves kept him from recovering anything valuable from the Whydah. He could see parts of the ship on the sandbar, but he could not reach them.
Southack's letters and his map, where he marked the Whydah's location, were very important. They helped explorer Barry Clifford find the shipwreck and its treasures many years later. In 1985, Clifford found the ship's bell, which had "The + Whydah + Gally + 1716" written on it. The Whydah is currently the only fully confirmed Golden Age pirate shipwreck ever found. Its artifacts are now on display at the Whydah Pirate Museum.
Later Life
After his naval career, Southack worked in the British fishing industry in places like Shelburne and Canso, Nova Scotia. He spent his later years in Boston, where he passed away in 1745. It is said that the Governor never paid him back for his efforts at the Whydah wreck site. Southack is buried at Old North Church.
Some of the other ships he commanded included the Porcupine, Mary, William and Mary, Friends Adventure, and Seaflower.
Legacy
- Phillips Street - Southack Street and Southack Court in Beacon Hill, Boston are named after him.
