John Clipperton facts for kids

John Clipperton (born 1676, died 1722) was an English privateer, a bit like a government-approved pirate, who sailed the seas in the 1700s. He often fought against the Spanish. He went on two big sailing trips to the South Pacific. The first was with Captain William Dampier in 1703, and the second was his own adventure starting in 1719. He even used Clipperton Island in the eastern Pacific Ocean as a secret base for his attacks.

Clipperton's Early Life and Skills

John Clipperton was born in Great Yarmouth, England, in 1676. His family had many sailors, so he grew up around the sea. When he was young, he sailed all over Europe, visited the West Indies, and even traveled all the way around the world! He was a very skilled sailor and knew how to steer a ship well. People said he was a direct and honest person.

First Journey with Captain Dampier

Bahia of Guayaquil on the Spanish Main, as seen by Clipperton

In 1703, Clipperton joined an expedition led by Captain William Dampier. This was during a time when England was at war with Spain. Dampier made Clipperton the captain of a Spanish ship they had captured.

However, this first trip didn't go smoothly for Clipperton. He had a disagreement with Dampier and was later captured by the Spanish. He was held captive for four years before finally returning home in 1712.

It was during this journey that Clipperton is believed to have found Clipperton Island. He later used this island as a hidden base. He would become captain of a ship called the Success. From this island, he launched attacks on Spanish ships and towns along the west coast of the Americas. He even stored his treasures and supplies there, making the island's caves bigger and stronger.

In 1714, Clipperton attacked a large Spanish ship called the Manila Galleon. This ship carried valuable goods from Asia to Mexico. This attack happened while the crew was resting at Cabo San Lucas in Mexico. Because of this incident, the King of Spain, Philip V of Spain, decided that a new settlement was needed. This new place, San Diego, California, would help protect Spain's western coast.

Clipperton's Later Expedition

We know much more about Clipperton's second big trip to the Pacific Ocean, which started in 1719. By this time, he was a very capable and hardworking captain.

In 1718, a group of London merchants, called the "Gentleman Venturers," paid for a privateering expedition. They expected another war with Spain to start soon. Clipperton was given permission to attack Spanish ships in the South Sea. He sailed on the ship Success, along with another ship called the Speedwell, captained by George Shelvocke. Clipperton was in charge of the whole expedition when the two ships left England in February 1719.

The ships soon got separated during a storm and didn't meet again for almost two years! As Clipperton sailed around Cape Horn at the tip of South America, he waited at some islands hoping the Speedwell would catch up. When the Success finally left, Clipperton left two of his crew members stranded on Juan Fernández Island as punishment. This was the same island where Alexander Selkirk (who partly inspired the story of Robinson Crusoe) had been stranded years before.

Clipperton sailed all around South America, attacking Spanish ships along the coast of Peru. He was even chased by a Spanish admiral named Blas de Lezo. Clipperton managed to escape and sailed all the way to Asia. He even captured his old enemy, the Marquis de Villa-Rocha, whom he treated with respect. Later, his travels took him to Mexico.

Trouble at Guam

On May 10, 1721, Clipperton arrived at the Mariana Islands after a long 53-day journey from Mexico. Six of his crew had died, and the rest were very weak. He decided to stop at Guam to get supplies. Clipperton and the Spanish governor of the Marianas, Luis Antonio Sánchez de Tagle, agreed to trade.

Things got complicated when Clipperton suggested that the governor pay a ransom for the Marquis de Villa-Rocha, who was still on Clipperton's ship. The Marquis and two of Clipperton's crew went ashore. However, Clipperton became very angry when the promised ransom and his crew members were not returned. He sent a message to the governor, threatening to "demolish all the houses on shore, burn the ship in the harbour, and do all the mischief he could at the Philippine Islands" if his demands were not met.

On May 28, the Spanish refused to trade supplies unless Clipperton's ship, the Success, gave up its gunpowder and cannonballs. In response, Clipperton ordered his ship to sail close to shore and start firing. But the Success got stuck on the ground, becoming an easy target for Spanish cannons. The ship's first officer was killed. Clipperton was not able to command the ship well at that moment. Another officer took over and, after three days of trying, managed to get the ship floating again, all while under attack from the Spanish.

Clipperton finally managed to sail away from Guam on May 31, 1721. The Spanish government was already worried about other navies threatening their valuable Manila Galleon trade and their lands in the Pacific. This incident likely convinced Spain that they needed to protect their ships better at Guam. Because of this, new anchorages were opened in 1734, and two cannon batteries were built to protect the harbor.

Clipperton's Final Days

After leaving Guam, Clipperton traveled to Macau, where he stayed as his health got worse. He then sailed to Batavia (now Jakarta) in the Dutch East Indies. Finally, he returned to his family in Galway, Ireland, in June 1722. He died just one week after arriving home.

See also

In Spanish: John Clipperton para niños