François or Francis Le Clerc, known as "Jambe de Bois" ("Peg Leg"), (died 1563) was a 16th-century French privateer, originally from Normandy. He is credited as the first pirate in the modern era to have a "peg leg".
He was often the first to board an enemy vessel during an attack or raid. It was this brazen style that eventually caused him to suffer the loss of a leg and severe damage to one arm while fighting the English at Guernsey in 1549. Although many pirates would have had their careers ended by such an injury, Le Clerc refused to retire and instead expanded the scope of his piracy by financing the voyages and attacks of other pirates as well.
Despite his wounds, Le Clerc led major raids against the Spanish, who nicknamed him "Pata de Palo" ("Peg Leg"). In 1553, he assumed overall command of seven pirate craft and three royal vessels, the latter commanded by himself, Jacques de Sores and Robert Blundel. This same year he attacked the port of Santa Cruz de La Palma, in the Canary Islands, which he looted and set on fire, destroying a large number of buildings.
This strong fleet raided San Germán in Puerto Rico and methodically looted the ports of Hispaniola and Cuba from south to north, stealing hides and cannon as they traveled. They sacked Santiago de Cuba in 1554,[1] occupied it for a month, and left with 80,000 pesos in treasure. So completely devastated was Cuba's first capital that it was soon completely eclipsed by Havana and never recovered its former prosperity.
He and his crew of 330 men were the first Europeans to settle the island of Saint Lucia, and used the nearby Pigeon Island to target Spanish treasure galleons.[2]
In 1560, while awaiting a Spanish treasure fleet carrying a cargo of bullion, he caused a great deal of damage to settlements along the coast of Panama.
In April 1562, Protestants in several Norman cities rebelled against their Roman Catholic king. Queen Elizabeth I of England dispatched British troops to occupy Le Havre until June 1563. Le Clerc joined the English invaders and ravaged French shipping. In March 1563, he asked for a large pension as a reward for his actions. Wounded in his pride when Elizabeth turned down his request, he sailed for the Azores Islands. He was killed there in 1563, while hunting down Spanish treasure ships.
françois, clerc, françois, francis, clerc, known, jambe, bois, died, 1563, 16th, century, french, privateer, originally, from, normandy, credited, first, pirate, modern, have, bornunknownnormandydied1563, 1564, azores, islandspiratical, careernickname, jambe, . Francois or Francis Le Clerc known as Jambe de Bois Peg Leg died 1563 was a 16th century French privateer originally from Normandy He is credited as the first pirate in the modern era to have a peg leg Francois Le ClercBornunknownNormandyDied1563 1564 Azores IslandsPiratical careerNickname Jambe de Bois Pata de Palo Peg Leg TypePrivateerYears active 1563Base of operationsSaint LuciaHe was often the first to board an enemy vessel during an attack or raid It was this brazen style that eventually caused him to suffer the loss of a leg and severe damage to one arm while fighting the English at Guernsey in 1549 Although many pirates would have had their careers ended by such an injury Le Clerc refused to retire and instead expanded the scope of his piracy by financing the voyages and attacks of other pirates as well Despite his wounds Le Clerc led major raids against the Spanish who nicknamed him Pata de Palo Peg Leg In 1553 he assumed overall command of seven pirate craft and three royal vessels the latter commanded by himself Jacques de Sores and Robert Blundel This same year he attacked the port of Santa Cruz de La Palma in the Canary Islands which he looted and set on fire destroying a large number of buildings This strong fleet raided San German in Puerto Rico and methodically looted the ports of Hispaniola and Cuba from south to north stealing hides and cannon as they traveled They sacked Santiago de Cuba in 1554 1 occupied it for a month and left with 80 000 pesos in treasure So completely devastated was Cuba s first capital that it was soon completely eclipsed by Havana and never recovered its former prosperity Richer booty was taken on the return voyage as the corsairs plundered Las Palmas on Grand Canary Island and captured a Genoese carrack He and his crew of 330 men were the first Europeans to settle the island of Saint Lucia and used the nearby Pigeon Island to target Spanish treasure galleons 2 In 1560 while awaiting a Spanish treasure fleet carrying a cargo of bullion he caused a great deal of damage to settlements along the coast of Panama In April 1562 Protestants in several Norman cities rebelled against their Roman Catholic king Queen Elizabeth I of England dispatched British troops to occupy Le Havre until June 1563 Le Clerc joined the English invaders and ravaged French shipping In March 1563 he asked for a large pension as a reward for his actions Wounded in his pride when Elizabeth turned down his request he sailed for the Azores Islands He was killed there in 1563 while hunting down Spanish treasure ships References edit Privateer Dragons St Lucia historyFurther reading editMaxwell Kenneth Naked Tropics Essays on Empire and Other Rogues London Routledge UK 2003 ISBN 0 415 94576 3 Mcgrath John Terrence The French in Early Florida In the Eye of the Hurricane Gainesville University Press of Florida 2000 ISBN 0 8130 1784 X de la Ronciere Charles Histoire de la marine francaise History of the French Navy Paris 1910 https archive org details histoiredelamari04larouoft de la Ronciere Charles Henri II precurseur de Colbert Paris Bibliotheque de l Ecole des chartes 1905 page 639 https www persee fr doc bec 0373 6237 1905 num 66 1 461347 Memoires de la Societe nationale academique de Cherbourg Vol XXIII Saint Lo 1942 https gallica bnf fr ark 12148 bpt6k6561152f r langFR textePageExternal links editFrancois Le Clerc at Rob Ossian s Pirate Cove Famous Pirates Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Francois Le Clerc amp oldid 1180657081, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
