That the ear of seaman Robert Jenkins caused the 'War of Jenkin's Ear', between England and Spain?
That it is said that Blackbeard fought with flaming matches tied into his beard and hair?
That at the end of the 18th century a bandit called Three-Fingered Jack caused alarm every where?
That Admiral Rodney won the Battle of the Saints in 1782 by maneuvering his 36 ships through the enemy lines?
That historian Edward Long wrote 'It is to the buccaneers that we (the British) owe the possession of Jamaica at this hour'?
Rough seas and rough times...
During the first British years in Jamaica, their main problem was defense. In spite of the fact the battle between the Spanish and the English was done, the West Indies didn't calm down.
Welcome the pirates and the Buccaneers!
Boucan
The word buccaneer comes from the French word boucan, a frame of wood to dry meat (and the French got the word from the Caribs...).
The first buccaneers were escaped criminals, political refugees, runaway bondsmen, ect. and lived on a small rocky island in front of Hispaniola's north coast, called Tortuga. This society of rough sea-rovers build a sort of international harbor from where they did business with passing ships by trading meat, hides and tallow. They usually worked with to and shared al earnings together.
The Spanish in Hispaniola were, of course, not really happy with these guys and did al they can to chase them away. The buccaneers realized that branding together the best way was to defend themselves against the Spanish. The 'Confederacy of the Brethren of the Coast' was born and the years after the group of buccaneers grow to a respectable, but serious danger in the region.
They started to explore the Caribbean sea, first by canoe, but later in from the Spanish captured ships. They became more and more organized and the stern discipline was the base of their success.
War in Europe
Because of the Second Dutch War in 1664, the British in Europe did not have a fleet ready for the West Indies. So the governor of Jamaica at that time, Sir Thomas Modyford, decided to give the buccaneers the defense of the island.
For the buccaneers, Port Royal was the best place to set up their new business and a place to repair their ships. Within a few years Port Royal was the richest, but also the most depraved city of the world.
Sir Henry Morgan
It was Henry Morgan, a rough Welshman, who kept the wilde Brethren together. Born as the son of a Welsh farmer, he traveled from Barbados and Tortuga to Jamaica, where he became the right hand of the governor Modyford.
The most known milestones in Morgan's life were the plundering of Porto Bello in Panama, Maracaibo in Venezuela and in Puerto Principe in Cuba. The crowning glory of his work was the destruction of Panama City, the most important town in Spain's New World.
The British royal family was displeased about the acts of Morgan and Modyford, they just signed the Treaty of Madrid and the sacking's made the peace worthless.
After all, it was forgiven and forgotten and Morgan became governor of Jamaica while Modyford got a job as chief justice.
End of Port Royal
Morgan loved Port Royal and after his death in 1688 his body was entombed. It was the end of Port Royal as a buccaneering port.
During the very strong earthquake on June 7, 1692 most of the town disappeared under sea level, Morgan's grave included.
A new episode in Jamaica history started.
The Jamaica government tried to stop the activities of the buccaneers, it was enough and became out of fashion.
Pirates
After the unsuccessful French invasion from admiral Jean de Casse on the east coast and in Carlisle Bay (Clarendon) a new danger swept the Caribbean area.
Attacks by pirates became more and more common, and they were growing in number. Familiar names like Nicholas Brown (who's life finally ended in Jamaica), Christopher Winter and Charles Vane were not really the most friendly guys to meet.
Another pirate, Jack Rackham ('Calico Jack') got famous because of his love for calico underwear. This violent pirate got the Caribbean for more than two years in his power.
But in 1720 he made a mistake by staying too long at Jamaica's Ocho Rios. Captain Barnet did not had much trouble to capture the rum punch drinking Rackman.
During the trial an amazing discovery was made: two of Rackman's crew members were woman. Finally Calico Jack was executed.
Most famous pirate of all was, of course, Edward Teach, better known as Blackbeard. It is not proved, but some believe he was born in Jamaica.
Besides buccaneers and pirates, more disasters swept Jamaica during this period. Hurricanes, fire, invasions and internal conflicts made that Jamaica did not calm down.
the buccaneers 
