Henry Mainwaring facts for kids

Sir Henry Mainwaring (1587–1653) was an English adventurer who lived a very interesting life. He was a lawyer, a soldier, a writer, and a sailor. For a time, he was even a pirate based in Newfoundland! Later, he became an important naval officer in the Royal Navy. He also supported the King's side during the English Civil War.

Early Life and Education

Henry Mainwaring was born in Ightfield, a town in Shropshire, England. His father was Sir George Mainwaring, and his mother was Ann. Her father, Sir William More, was a Vice-Admiral, meaning he was a high-ranking naval officer.

Henry was a very smart student. He went to Brasenose College at the University of Oxford. By the age of 15, in 1602, he had already earned a degree in Law.

After college, Henry worked as a trial lawyer. He also spent time as a soldier, possibly fighting in the Low Countries. He was a sailor and even an author, learning from a famous writer named John Davies. Before long, his life took an unexpected turn towards piracy.

From Pirate Hunter to Pirate

In 1610, when Henry was 24, he received a special mission. The Lord High Admiral, Nottingham, asked him to capture a well-known pirate named Peter Easton. Easton was causing trouble near the Bristol Channel.

Henry was given a fast and well-armed ship called the Resistance. However, this mission might have been a clever way for Henry to start fighting the Spanish.

When he reached the Straits of Gibraltar, Henry told his crew his real plan. He intended to fight the Spanish wherever he found them. Becoming a pirate was not that unusual for brave young men in those days.

In 1614, Henry sailed his ships to Newfoundland. He believed this area was perfect for finding new crew members and getting supplies. He used Peter Easton's old base at Harbour Grace, Canada, as his own pirate hideout. From there, he raided ships belonging to Spanish, Portuguese, and French traders.

On June 4, 1614, off the coast of Newfoundland, Henry's fleet of eight ships attacked the cod-fishing boats. They took supplies and forced skilled carpenters and sailors to join their crew. Henry would choose one out of every six sailors. About 400 men joined him willingly, while others were forced to.

Afterward, he sailed to the coast of Spain. There, he captured a Portuguese ship and took its cargo of wine. He also seized a French ship and stole 10,000 dried fish from it.

Henry's main base was at La Mamora, on the Atlantic coast of Morocco. While he was away, a Spanish fleet attacked and captured the town. Henry had good relationships with the local people, called the Moors. Because of this, he was able to get the English prisoners released.

Henry's pirate fleet became so feared that Spain even offered him a pardon. They wanted him to join their navy and serve under the Spanish flag.

A New Path: Royal Navy Service

Henry's pirate actions started to cause problems between England, Spain, and Portugal. To stop this, King James I threatened to send his own fleet to capture Henry. However, the King later changed his mind. In 1616, he gave Henry a royal pardon because Henry had helped protect the Newfoundland trading fleet near Gibraltar.

After receiving his pardon, Henry wrote a book called Discourse of Pirates in 1618. In this book, he explained why some people become pirates. He also advised the King not to give pardons to pirates! The King then sent Henry to the Venetian Republic as his representative, even though the Spanish ambassador protested.

Henry Mainwaring was knighted, meaning he became "Sir Henry," on March 20, 1618. He then joined the Royal Navy. In 1621, he was elected as a Member of Parliament for Dover.

Henry became a vice-admiral, a very high rank in the navy, before he left in 1639. During the English Civil War, he supported the King's side. After the war, he went to live in France. He passed away on May 15, 1653, and was buried in St. Giles' Church in London.

His Family

Henry Mainwaring married a daughter of Sir Thomas Gardiner in 1630. Sadly, she passed away in 1633.

Henry had several brothers who were also important figures. These included Sir Arthur Mainwaring, George Mainwaring, and Sir Thomas Mainwaring. The Mainwaring family was very old and respected. They likely came to England around the time of William the Conqueror in 1066.