During the early 18th century a major increase in piratical attacks occurred. It disrupted maritime trade in American waters and markedly drove up marine insurance rates. The first significant attacks began around 1714, and they continued for the best part of a decade. The economic impact was just part of the problem – this upsurge of piracy appeared to be self-perpetuating. Often, on ships captured by pirates some of the crew would volunteer to join the ranks of their assailants. These recruits increased the scale of the pirate problem, and soon the impact of piracy was being felt in other regions, such as off the West African coast and the Indian Ocean.
While this was devastating enough for the shipping industry in both Europe and the Americas, it also began to concern those in power. In a growing number of instances, captains whose ships had been attacked reported that the pirates had abused them, both physically and verbally, while accusing them of cruelty to their crew and to seamen in general. While this resentment towards authority was primarily directed at the captains, it was clear that it extended to national governments and even civilised society as a whole. It almost seemed as if once a seaman had become a pirate, he had rejected the very fabric of contemporary social order. This, of course, posed a threat to the existing establishment, both in Europe and its colonies. It also suggested that the pirate scourge had a radical element to it.
THE SPARK OF RADICALISM
One reason for this might possibly be traced to piracy’s origin. In April 1713 the Treaty of Utrecht brought an end to the War of the Spanish Succession (1700-14). More to the point, it ended the war between France and Britain; peace with Spain would soon follow, but the war between France and Austria would continue until the following March. Word of the Utrecht treaty reached Jamaica followed by news that peace had also been agreed with Spain. The long-running war had been good for the island. For almost a decade-and-a-half the old Jamaican buccaneering haven of Port Royal had served as a base for British privateers – sea rovers who carried Letters of Marque empowering them
