Henry Morgan (1635 – 25 August 1688), born Sir Henry Morgan, was a Welsh privateer, lieutenant governor of Jamaica, and a notorious pirate who raided Spanish settlements in the Caribbean during the 17th century. He is often remembered for his daring exploits and his role in the Anglo-Spanish War. Morgan's actions, while often brutal and controversial, were sanctioned by the English government, which viewed them as a means to weaken Spanish power in the region. His most famous raid was the sack of Panama City in 1671, which, despite being a significant military achievement, led to his eventual downfall and imprisonment. Morgan's legacy is complex, as he is both celebrated as a national hero in Wales and condemned as a ruthless pirate by historians. In Hebrew, he is known as הנרי מורגן, in Spanish as Enrique Morgan, and in French as Henri Morgan.
Privateer and political office holder in Jamaica (1635–1688)
Sir Henry Morgan was a Welsh privateer, plantation owner, and, later, the lieutenant governor of Jamaica. From his base in Port Royal, Jamaica, he and those under his command raided settlements and shipping ports on the Spanish Main, becoming wealthy as they did so. With the prize money and loot from the raids, Morgan purchased three large sugar plantations on Jamaica.