Sir Henry Mainwaring | The Canadian Encyclopedia

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Sir Henry Mainwaring

Sir Henry Mainwaring, privateer, pirate, royal advisor, vice-admiral (born c. 1587 near Ightfield, England; died in 1653 in London, England). In 1610, Mainwaring was sent to capture the English pirate, Peter Easton. Later, Mainwaring was awarded a letter of marque and ordered to attack foreign ships. He acted on behalf of the King but also became a pirate seeking his own fortune on the African coast and, for a several months, in Newfoundland. Pardoned by King James I in 1616, Mainwaring returned to England where he was nominated as a member of parliament. He also became a naval advisor, vice admiral and was knighted. Mainwaring lost his position of power in the English Civil War.

Early Life and Education

Mainwaring was one of six children of Ann and Sir George Mainwaring of Peover, Cheshire. As the second oldest son, he would not inherit his family’s wealth and titles and so needed to make his own way. In July 1602, at the age of 15, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree at Brasenose College, Oxford. In 1604, he was admitted to the Inner Temple, which is a bar-like organization for barristers.

Privateer and Pirate

He developed a love for the sea and joined the British navy with the rank of captain. In 1610, the High Lord Admiral commissioned Mainwaring to capture pirate Peter Easton. The mission failed, but Mainwaring was then issued a letter of marque, which made him a privateer. A privateer was a private citizen charged with attacking the King’s enemies with his own ship and crew, and paid with stolen property. While privateers engaged in the same activities as pirates, privateers had a government’s sanction; pirates did not. Mainwaring was ordered to plunder Spanish shipping in the West Indies. He also fought pirates and privateers who were terrorizing British shipping on the north African Barbary Coast.

Letter of Marque

Mainwaring captained the heavily armed ship Resistance. From a base in Mamora, Morocco, Mainwaring led a 30 to 40 ship fleet that spread fear in the region. He took many actions outside the understanding of his letter of marque and so, like many privateers, became a pirate while also still serving the king. However, even in his piracy, he took great care not to attack British ships. In fact, Mainwaring did not attack pirates who promised to leave British ships untouched. With their shipping disrupted, the Spanish and French kings both offered Mainwaring gold and a naval commission if he would cease his operations. He refused.

Activities in Newfoundland

In 1614, Mainwaring arrived with eight ships at Harbour Grace, Newfoundland. It had been the base of pirate Peter Easton. Mainwaring kidnapped men from harbour towns to augment his crew and spent three and a half months attacking and stealing from Portuguese and French fishing fleets on the Newfoundland coast. In September, he returned to the Barbary Coast where he resumed attacks on Spanish ships.

Both French and Spanish governments issued formal complaints and requests for compensation with the British government. Meanwhile, Mainwaring was sued for having attacked the ship Hound of Flushing while in Newfoundland. King James I declared that Mainwaring had, “committed no great wrong.” He arranged to have the suit dropped and calmed the French and Spanish by having Mainwaring promise to end his piracy and return to England. Mainwaring and his crew were granted absolute pardons on the condition that they returned to England and gave up piracy. The deal was accepted on 9 June 1616, and Mainwaring sailed home.

Post Privateer-Pirate Career

Mainwaring was appointed a Gentleman of the Royal Bedchamber, which meant staying close by the King so that his Highness could enjoy his company and advice. Mainwaring wrote a notable book entitled Discourse on Piracy and its Suppression (1618). He later wrote The Seaman’s Dictionary (1644).

In 1618, Mainwaring was knighted. Two years later, he was appointed deputy warden of the Cinque Ports and Lieutenant of Dover Castle, responsible for the area’s policing, maintenance and defence. His good work led to his being nominated as one of Dover’s Burgesses (representatives) in the parliament that began sitting in January 1621. Mainwaring also advised the King directly on naval matters during a period of major naval reform that included modernizing ship building practices, re-evaluating naval ports, and a transition to the use of permanent, professional seamen.

Mainwaring was sometimes called to return to the sea in service of the King. He undertook missions to France and Spain. He also led a small fleet to Gibraltar where he rescued a fleet of Newfoundland trading ships from pirates.

Mainwaring married Fortune Gardiner in 1630. She was the daughter of Sir Thomas Gardiner. She died three years later and their only child, a daughter, died when she was six. He never remarried.

In 1630, Mainwaring became the Master of the Corporation of Trinity House, an important post in an influential naval guild. In 1639, he was appointed vice admiral.

The Life and Works of Sir Henry Mainwaring

Fall from Power and Death

During the English Civil Wars that ultimately resulted in the Parliamentarians defeating the Royalists, King Charles I was executed and Mainwaring, a Royalist, lost the Trinity House appointment. Mainwaring fled to France and suffered in dire poverty for the rest of his life.

Mainwaring arranged a return to London in 1651 where he died two years later. He is buried in St. Giles’ Church in Camberwell. There is no gravestone.

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