Henry Morgan

For other uses, see Morgan (disambiguation)

Henry Morgan
Biographical information
Gender	Male
Ethnic group	Welsh
Hair color	Brown
Born	1635
Family	Sir Edward Morgan (uncle) Mary Elizabeth Morgan (wife)
Title(s)	Pirate Lord Lieutenant governor Sir Admiral Captain
Also known as	Henry Shadow Lord Shadow Master
Statistics
Weapon(s) owned	Flintlock Sword Alchemy Dagger
Ship(s) captained or crewed	HMS Oxford Satisfaction Centurion Black Pearl
Battles	Battle of Portobello Battle of Maracaibo Battle of Panama Day of the Shadow
Affiliation	England Brethren Court Pirate Code Shadow Army
Behind the scenes
First appearance	The Caribbean
Latest appearance	Day of the Shadow

"I am not just the Shadow Lord. Nor am I the useless pirate Henry that you found so very amusing. In fact, I am much older than you know, because I devised a way to live forever. I have been around for over a hundred years. I was a Pirate Lord myself. The truth is...I am Captain Henry Morgan of the second Brethren Court!"

―Henry

Sir Henry Morgan was a legendary Welsh privateer and a Pirate Lord of the Brethren Court. While working for England, he attacked Spanish possessions including Venezuela and Panama. Among his accomplishments at the dawn of the Golden Age of Piracy were helping write the Code of the Pirate Brethren with "Bartholomew" during the Second Brethren Court, becoming a knight of England, and being appointed lieutenant governor of Jamaica, being active in his career until the late 1680s. Through mysterious circumstances, Henry Morgan retreated to a secret hideout where he studied alchemy, eventually discovering the secret of immortality, and then became the lord of shadows known as the Shadow Lord. As the Shadow Lord, Henry Morgan was the greatest alchemist the Seven Seas had ever known and the fiercest pirate in the Caribbean, though no one knew it but him, as well as a master of darkness and shadows. By the quest for the Shadow Gold, the lord of shadows created a special gold that granted him unfathomable powers as well as amassed an army of shadows with the goal to find and kill the Pirate Lords for their Shadow Master, only to be defeated by Captain Jack Sparrow, among the other Lords of the Brethren Court.

Biography

Early life

Sir Henry Morgan was born in 1635 to a prosperous Welsh farming family, but he chose life at sea while a young man. After starting as a buccaneer on Tortuga and later in Barbados, he settled around 1660 in Port Royal on England's newly acquired island of Jamaica. He was soon joined by his uncle, Edward Morgan, who was appointed lieutenant-governor of the island after the restoration of King Charles II in 1660. After marrying his uncle's eldest daughter, Mary Elizabeth, later that year, Henry Morgan began sailing in the buccaneer fleets that were employed by the English to attack Spanish settlements. In this new role, he served a captain in the fleet of Admiral Christopher Myngs in 1662-1663.

Morgan the Pirate

Building reputation

"Captain Henry Morgan sacked a dozen cities all across the Spanish Main."

―Jack Sparrow to Will Turner

Having taken part in Myng's successful plundering of Santiago de Cuba and Campeche, Mexico, Morgan returned to sea in late 1663. Sailing with Captain Jack Morris and three other ships, Morgan looted the provincial capital of Villahermosa. Returning from their raid, they found that their ships had been captured by Spanish patrols. Unperturbed they captured two Spanish ships and continued their cruise, sacking Trujillo and Granada before returning to Port Royal, Jamaica. In late 1665, Morgan commanded a ship in Edward Mansfield's expedition against Providence and Santa Catalina.

Henry Morgan's pirate flag.

Sent by Jamaican Governor Thomas Modyford, the expedition captured the islands, but encountered problems when Mansfield was captured and killed by the Spanish. With their leader dead, the buccaneers elected Morgan their admiral. With this success, Modyford began sponsoring a number of Morgan's cruises again the Spanish. In 1667, Modyford dispatched Morgan with ten ships and 500 men to free a number of English prisoners being held in Puerto Principe, Cuba. Landing, his men sacked the city and freed the prisoners before re-embarking and sailing south to Panama.

Coming ashore near Puerto Bello, Morgan and his men overwhelmed the garrison and occupied the town. After defeating a Spanish counterattack, he agreed to leave the town after receiving a large ransom. Though he had exceeded his commission, Morgan returned a hero and his exploits were glossed over by Modyford and the Admiralty. Sailing again in January 1669, Morgan descended on the Spanish Main with 900 men with the goal of attacking Cartagena. Later that month, his flagship, the Oxford, exploded, killing 300 men. With his forces reduced, Morgan felt he lacked the men to take Cartagena and turned east.

Attacking Maracaibo, Venezuela, Morgan plundered the town before sailing south into Lake Maracaibo and occupying Gibraltar. After several weeks ashore, Morgan sailed north, capturing three Spanish ships before re-entering the Caribbean. As in the past, he was chastised by Modyford upon his return, but not punished. Having established himself as the preeminent buccaneer leader in the Caribbean, Morgan was named commander-in-chief of all warships in Jamaica and given a blanket commission by Modyford to make war against the Spanish.

Pirate Lord

"At any rate, the second Brethren Court drew up the Pirate Code which has served us well. Two of the Pirate Lords, Morgan and Bartholomew, figured it out and wrote it down, and that's what we've all lived by ever since."

―Hector Barbossa

Throughout his career, Morgan roamed the islands of the Bahamas. Morgan's popularity among the buccaneers was so big, that he became a Pirate Lord of the Brethren Court. He attended the Second Brethren Court where, together with the fellow Pirate Lord Bartholomew, he wrote the Code of the Pirate Brethren. Morgan solidified the Brethren Court, brought order among the buccaneers, and strengthened piracy in the Caribbean.

Attack on Panama

Morgan's raid on Panama.

"They say Henri Morgan robbed a Spanish monastery of a gold cross and a chalice. The monastery was located somewhere on the coast of Panama."

―Christophe-Julien de Rapièr to Jack Sparrow

Sailing south in late 1670, Morgan recaptured the island of Santa Catalina on December 15 and twelve days later occupied Chagres Castle in Panama. Advancing up the Chagres River with 1,000 men, he approached the city of Panama on January 18, 1671. Splitting his men into two groups, he ordered one to march through nearby woods to flank the Spanish as the other advanced across open ground. As the 1,500 defenders attacked Morgan's exposed lines, the forces in the woods attacked routing the Spanish. Moving into the city, Morgan captured over 400,000 pieces of eight.

During Morgan's stay, the city was burned however the source of the fire is disputed. Returning to Chagres, Morgan was stunned to learn that peace had been declared between England and Spain. Upon reaching Jamaica, he found that Modyford had been recalled and that orders had been issued for his arrest. On August 4, 1672, Morgan was taken into custody and transported to England. At his trial he was able to prove that he had no knowledge of the treaty and was acquitted. In 1674, Morgan was knighted by King Charles II and sent back to Jamaica as lieutenant governor.

Later life

Captain Henry Morgan.

"Morgan, on the other hand, was a pretty useless pirate. Kept losing his charts or dropping his compass over the side by accident, that sort of thing. But he had a flair for words. He's the one that gave the Code its character. And rumor had it that he used that brain of his for some pretty nasty plans here and there, at least until he settled down to be governor of Jamaica, the lazy sot."

―Grandmama

Arriving in Jamaica, Morgan took up his post under Governor Lord Vaughan. Overseeing the island's defenses, Morgan also further developed his vast sugar plantations. In 1681, Morgan was replaced by his political rival, Sir Thomas Lynch, after falling out of favor with the king. Removed from the Jamaican Council by Lynch in 1683, Morgan was reinstated five years later after his friend Christopher Monck became governor.

According to various legends and lore, Morgan died in Port Royal on August 25, 1688. The official diagnosis was dropsy, but it was believed that he might have contracted tuberculosis while in England or had liver failure due to heavy drinking.

Quest for the Shadow Gold

The Shadow Lord

"First Panama, teach them the lesson they should have learned long ago. And then the rest of the world."

―The Shadow Lord

However, Henry Morgan's death was only a legend. Through unknown and mysterious circumstances, he moved to the secret laboratory on a remote island where he began to study alchemy. Morgan spent years studying all sorts of science, sorcery, and black magic. He also discovered a way to live forever, and was able to prolong his life. By the 1710s, he became a lord of alchemy known as the Shadow Lord, a master of darkness and shadows. With his newfound power, he created the Shadow Army, an army of inanimate objects brought to life by magic.

For their first mission, the Shadow Army was sent against Panama. The town was mercilessly destroyed, though the Shadow Lord's ship was destroyed in the process. Despite this small problem, the Shadow Lord knew he needed more practice before he'd be ready for his day of vengeance. Remembering the injustice done to him long ago, the Shadow Lord was bent on having his revenge on the Pirate Lords on the Day of the Shadow. However, the Shadow Gold, a magical elixir and the source of his power, was stolen from him. So now he had to find it, but not before getting a new ship.

Throughout the quest for the Shadow Gold, Morgan and Bartholomew setting down the Pirate Code during the Second Brethren Court would be mentioned, either favorably or unfavorably, by several Pirate Lords. The Shadow Lord's plan was also brought as a matter of concern by the soothsayer Tia Dalma. Morgan took pleasure in the other Pirate Lords not knowing he was the greatest alchemist the Seven Seas had ever known and the fiercest pirate in the Caribbean, until the time was right.

Jack Sparrow

"I am Henry. Are you really the great Captain Jack Sparrow?"
"I most certainly am. Unless he owes you money. In which case, no, never heard of him."

―The Shadow Lord and Jack Sparrow

Disguised as an ordinary pirate, Morgan went to Tortuga, intending to join the crew of Jack Sparrow. He found Jack inside the Faithful Bride tavern, and, after introducing himself as Henry, they shook hands, and Morgan used the opportunity to curse Jack with the Shadow Sickness. However, before he could join Sparrow's crew, he was recruited by Eduardo Villanueva, the Spanish Pirate Lord of the Adriatic Sea.

Morgan boarded Villanueva's ship, the Centurion, which sailed for Europe. At some point during the journey, Morgan revealed his powers, captured the whole crew, and took control of the ship. With Morgan at the helm, the Centurion docked in Marseilles. Once on the land, Morgan found a sailor and forced him to tell him where he could find the French Pirate Lord Chevalle.

An alliance with the Huntingtons

"I will contact you again when you are near enough to be of use. And then I will tell you where to go to find Jack Sparrow. And then...then we can kill him together."

―The Shadow Lord to Barbara Huntington and Benedict Huntington

Shortly after ariving to France, Morgan used his powers to contact Benedict and Barbara Huntington, the officials of the East India Trading Company from Hong Kong. They were in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean aboard the HMS Peacock, sailing for Europe. Morgan spoke to them through Barbara's enchanted mirror and promised them that despite their recent failures in preventing Jack Sparrow from reaching the African Pirate Lord, they'll have the chance to kill him in Europe.

Personality and traits

"He was a cruel man, Captain Jack Sparrow."

―Alex

Where Blackbeard was a demon, Sir Henry Morgan was a downright devil. Morgan was a cruel man, ready to kill any man who would stand in his way. As a buccaneer leader, he would order the torture of his prisoners to force them to reveal the exact locations of their hidden treasures. Treachery was also among his many and habitual transgressions. He won the battle of Portobello by using a human shield of Spanish clergy. Despite this, those who remembered Morgan thought he was an "incompetent buffoon", saying he was a terrible pirate and that he could barely stand upright on a ship. As the Shadow Lord, he was a lord of alchemy, a master of darkness and shadows, as well as the greatest alchemist the Seven Seas had ever known and the fiercest pirate in the Caribbean, though no one knew it but him.

Equipment and skills

"I don't need enchanted devices to do what I'm doing right now. My powers are much stronger than that."

―The Shadow Lord to Benedict Huntington

While he considered himself the greatest alchemist of the Seven Seas, Henry Morgan used his powers to do whatever he wanted. His Shadow Army was an unstoppable force which no human power or army could match. He could also speak through enchanted mirrors to people far away from him.

Behind the scenes

"If you have sailed with Morgan for ten years like I have, you'd know not to question me!"

―Hector Barbossa to Twigg

• Sir Henry Morgan was first mentioned in Walt Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean: The Story of the Robust Adventure in Disneyland and Walt Disney World, a souvenir book for Walt Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean.
• "Morgan" was mentioned as having set down the Pirate's Code with Bartholomew in the Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy, beginning with The Curse of the Black Pearl. Among other sources, this would be referenced in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Complete Visual Guide. The Pirates' Guidelines, and The Captain Jack Sparrow Handbook. Although the Shadow Lord was introduced as "the greatest alchemist the Seven Seas had ever known and the fiercest pirate in the Caribbean" in Legends of the Brethren Court: The Caribbean, the character was revealed to be Henry Morgan in Legends of the Brethren Court: Day of the Shadow.
• Marc Davis originally intended to put historical pirates like Sir Henry Morgan, Blackbeard, Anne Bonny, and Captain Kidd into the original Pirates of the Caribbean attraction, but he eventually decided to "find ways to add something that people could get a laugh out of" instead. However, he did make an artwork of Morgan holding the red Jolly Roger with the white skull and crossbones.
• Henry Morgan had a cameo appearance in Jay Wolpert's draft for the first Pirates of the Caribbean movie, expanded from the story developed by Walt Disney Studios executives Brigham Taylor, Michael Haines, and Josh Harmon.
• In Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio's first screenplay draft of The Curse of the Black Pearl, in addition to the mention of Morgan and Bartholomew, Captain Barbossa claimed to have sailed with "Morgan" for ten years.

Henry Morgan's spirit in the comic The Buccaneer's Heart!.

The ghost of Captain Morgan, as imagined by Chris Schweizer and Joe Flood.

• In real-world history, Henry Morgan died in Port Royal in 1688. There is also no record of Morgan studying alchemy or doing anything relating to the supernatural. In addition, despite Marc Davis' original concepts for the original Disney attraction, the Jolly Roger wasn't used by pirates before the end of the 17th century, more than a decade after Morgan's historical death.
• The mention of Morgan in the 2003 video game Pirates of the Caribbean is anachronistic because the game is set in 1630, five years before Morgan's birth.
• In non-canonical Disney Adventures comic The Buccaneer's Heart!, Morgan's spirit was imprisoned in the Buccaneer's Heart, and was ultimately freed when Will Turner smashed the object.
• Henry Morgan is mentioned on one occasion in the novel On Stranger Tides, which was used as the basis for Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.
• One of the ideas for the Pirates of the Caribbean comic book series was the ghost of Captain Morgan causing trouble in Tortuga during Jack Sparrow's crew's night out. However, the story was rejected by Disney because of the ghost element of Dead Men Tell No Tales.
• The 2017 film, Dead Men Tell No Tales, featured a character named Captain Morgan who gave Jack Sparrow command of the Wicked Wench. It is unknown if this character was meant to be the Pirate Lord Morgan, the Morgan that Barbossa sailed with, or simply be a different Morgan entirely.

Appearances

• Pirates of the Caribbean (2003 video game) (Mentioned only)
• The Price of Freedom (Mentioned only)
• Legends of the Brethren Court: The Caribbean (First canonical appearance) (First identified as the Shadow Lord)
• Legends of the Brethren Court: Rising in the East (Mentioned only)
• Legends of the Brethren Court: The Turning Tide (Mentioned only)
• Legends of the Brethren Court: Wild Waters
• Legends of the Brethren Court: Day of the Shadow
• Tears of the Goddess (Mentioned only)
• Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (First mentioned) (First identified as Morgan)
  • Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2006 junior novelization) (Mentioned only)
• Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (Mentioned only)
• Pirates of the Caribbean: Tides of War (Mentioned in flashback(s))

Non-canon appearances

• The Buccaneer's Heart! (First appearance) (Appears as a ghost or spirit)
• Sea of Thieves: A Pirate's Life (Mentioned only) (Non-canonical appearance)

Sources

• Walt Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean: The Story of the Robust Adventure in Disneyland and Walt Disney World (First identified as Henry Morgan)
• Below Deck: An Interactive History Of Pirates
• Pirates of the Caribbean: The Complete Visual Guide
• The Pirates' Guidelines
• The Captain Jack Sparrow Handbook

External links

• Henry Morgan on Wikipedia

Notes and references

Members of the Brethren Court
First Court Pirate Kings First Pirate King Pirate Lords First Pirate Lord of the Atlantic Ocean Aides: Davy Jones Second Court Pirate Lords Henry Morgan – Bartholomew – Grandmama Third Court Pirate Lords Sao Feng's father Others: Tartaglia Court of Inquiry Pirate Lords Ching – Boris Palachnik – Rafael – Edward Teague – Eduardo Villanueva Aides: Davy Jones Keeper of the Code: Edward Teague Others: Hector Barbossa – Jack Sparrow – Ragetti – Melinda – Esmeralda Prison Dog Fourth Court Pirate Kings Elizabeth Swann Pirate Lords Ammand – Sumbhajee Angria – Hector Barbossa – Chevalle Ching – Jocard – Jack Sparrow – Eduardo Villanueva Aides: Askay – Pusasn – Ragetti – Joshamee Gibbs Keeper of the Code: Edward Teague Others: Sao Feng – Pintel –Prison Dog – Carriers of the Code
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