Juan García (privateer)

Juan Garcia
Born	Spain
Piratical career
Type	Privateer
Allegiance	Spanish Empire
Years active	1620s
Rank	Captain
Base of operations	Dunkirk
Battles/wars	Eighty Years' War

Juan Garcia (fl. 1622) was a 17th-century Spanish privateer. He was among a number of Spaniards who served the Spanish Crown as Dunkirkers during the Eighty Years' War. Both he and Pedro de la Plesa were caught by the Dutch Republic naval force as they attempted to break through a blockade of Dunkirk. He and de la Plesa were accused of leaving Captain Jan Jacobsen to face nine pursuing Dutch warships alone.

Biography

In October 1622, he and Pedro de la Plesa left Dunkirk with Jan Jacobsen attempting to break through the blockade imposed on the city by the Dutch Republic. However, a Dutch yacht spotted Pedro de la Plesa as he sailed out of Ostend. The ship's captain, Jacob Volckertzoon Vinck, immediately sailed to a small fleet stationed nearby. Its commander, Admiral Harman Kleuter, set off after the blockade runners at once and was later joined by another squadron under Captain Lambert Hendrikszoon. Garcia and Pedro de la Plesa fled instantly upon encountering the fleet, however Jacobsen stayed behind to fight the nine pursuing warships. Both because of his heroic last stand, as well as for covering his comrades' escape, Jacobsen and his crew became national heroes.

Further reading

• Duquesne, Jacques. Jean Bart. Paris: Seuil, 1992.
• Histoire de la Société Dunkerquoise. Mémoires de la Société Dunkerquoise pour L'Encouragement des Sciences, des Lettres et des Arts. Dunkerque: Typographie de Vanderest, 1855.
• Vrijman, L.C. Kaapvaart en zeerooverij; uit de geschiedenis der vrije nering in de Lage Landen. Amsterdam: P.N. van Kampen & Zoon, 1983.