The popular image of a pirate often includes a parrot perched on their shoulder. This stereotype can be traced back to the famous pirate Captain Henry Morgan, who was known to have a pet parrot that would ride along with him on voyages and raids. Morgan helped create the romanticized view of pirates that persists today. But who exactly was this infamous buccaneer who popularized parrots as pirate pets?
Captain Henry Morgan
Captain Henry Morgan was a Welsh privateer who operated in the Caribbean Sea during the mid-17th century. He conducted raids against Spanish settlements and shipping interests as part of Britain’s conflicts with Spain. Morgan commanded a fleet of ships and amassed great wealth from his privateering exploits. He was highly successful, capturing towns and ships and earning riches and acclaim in England. Morgan was viewed as a national hero in Britain. However, the Spanish, of course, saw him as a villainous pirate.
Morgan was born around 1635 in Wales and went to sea at a young age. He first sailed to Barbados as an indentured servant in the 1650s. Once he gained his freedom, Morgan made his way to Jamaica, which was a haven for privateers and pirates due to the lack of British naval presence. He quickly became involved in privateering ventures, gaining his own ship and crew.
By 1665, Morgan was an established privateer working on behalf of the British against their Spanish rivals. He commanded a small fleet of ships with crews numbering in the hundreds. Morgan mostly targeted Spanish settlements and ships in Cuba, Panama, and other colonial areas. His crowning achievement was sacking and plundering the wealthy city of Panama in 1671, which cemented his fame across the Caribbean.
Throughout his adventures, Morgan amassed enormous wealth from the spoils of his conquests. He also gained notoriety for his bold and ruthless exploits. After Panama, Morgan essentially retired from privateering and returned to Jamaica where he lived out his life as a wealthy planter until his death in 1688. The swashbuckling Morgan left behind a legacy as one of the most successful privateers and pirates in history.
Morgan’s Parrot
So where does the parrot fit into the story of Captain Henry Morgan? According to historical accounts, Morgan did indeed keep pet parrots throughout his seafaring career. Having exotic pets on board was common among pirates and privateers of the era. Parrots were valued for their striking plumage and ability to mimic human speech. A parrot perched on the shoulder made for a memorable picture befitting a tropical marauder.
Morgan likely acquired his first parrots in the Caribbean ports he frequented and kept them as companions through many voyages. Having a parrot around became part of his swashbuckling image and persona as he gained fame. Eyewitness accounts indicate that brightly-colored parrots were often seen accompanying Morgan on his ship and on land.
The association between Morgan and parrots was cemented by Alexandre Exquemelin, who sailed with Morgan and wrote about his exploits in a 1678 book. He described how Morgan kept parrots as pets, mentioning their presence in his cabin and on his shoulders at times. Exquemelin’s first-hand account gave rise to the enduring connection between Morgan and parrots in popular culture.
So while we do not know the exact details of his relationships with specific parrots, the historical evidence confirms that Captain Henry Morgan did frequently have parrots around him as beloved companions throughout his pirating career. His notoriety helped make parrots a pirate staple still seen today in movies, books, and costumes.
The Romanticized View of Pirates
The bold adventures and free-spirited lives of pirates have long captivated popular imagination. They represent rebellion against society’s rules and romanticize living by one’s own code. Captain Morgan was one of the earliest pirates to gain wide renown and help shape the public’s perception of piracy. His audacious raids against Spanish colonies made him a larger-than-life figure whose legend only grew over time.
The image of Morgan with a brightly colored parrot on his shoulder seemed to perfectly encapsulate the pirate lifestyle. His pet parrots became ingrained in accounts of his exploits. And Morgan leaned into this flamboyant persona as his reputation expanded. Having a parrot around perpetuated his notoriety while also humanizing the fearsome buccaneer by showing his affection for animals.
Morgan was likely astute enough to recognize the value of maintaining the parrot association as part of his own personal branding. The parrots projected an anthropomorphic, softer side to balance his ruthlessness in battle. Having such an exotic pet also reinforced his worldliness and travels to tropical locales full of adventure and riches for the taking.
Of course, the reality for real pirates was far more grim than the romantic notions. Life at sea was extremely tough and dangerous in the 17th century. Pirates faced violent encounters, storms, disease, hunger, and many other hardships. Though Morgan enjoyed immense success in his raids, most pirates did not gain riches and lived violently short lives.
However, Morgan’s legend persisted and became embellished. The imagine of a pirate with a colorful, chatty parrot on his shoulder became a popular trope. Morgan’s real-life pet parrots helped cement the idea and mythology that pirates and parrots went together. This romanticized view ignores the more unsavory parts of piracy while keeping the exciting, free-wheeling spirit very much alive.
Parrots as Pirate Pets
Parrots were prized shipboard companions for early buccaneers and sailors. Pirates could acquire them easily at ports in Africa and the Americas which were part of their trade routes. Having an exotic pet parrot became a status symbol and popular mascot. Pirates valued several traits that made parrots well-suited for life at sea:
- Their intelligence and ability to mimic humans made them entertaining pets.
- Their bright plumage added a touch of color and personality.
- Their longevity meant they could remain with a pirate for many years.
- Their diet of seeds and fruits were readily available on ships.
- They require little specialized care or space.
In addition to Morgan, other notable pirates from history were also said to have pet parrots. Famous examples include:
- Black Bart Roberts – One of the most successful pirates of the 18th century who operated in the Caribbean and Atlantic. He was known to travel with several parrots.
- Calico Jack Rackham – Active in the Bahamas during the early 1700s. Rackham flew a Jolly Roger flag depicting a skull between crossed swords, which may have inspired pirate flags featuring parrot designs.
- Mary Read – A notorious female pirate who disguised herself as a man. She allegedly had a parrot named Poll who gave away her gender by calling her “Mary.”
While on dry land, pirates could leave parrots in communities on tropical isles under the care of comrades or tradespeople. Then they could retrieve them when returning from voyages. The birds thrived in coastal environments resembling their native habitats.
Having a parrot around added some beneficial capabilities for a seafaring pirate as well. Parrots have excellent eyesight and their vantage point high on masts or in the crow’s nest allowed them to help spot approaching ships on the horizon. Their sharp beaks could also be used to sever rope lines during close combat situations while boarding enemy vessels.
Overall, parrots were colorful, engaging companions that fit well with the pirate lifestyle. The birds helped enliven the long days at sea and reflect the daring, free-wheeling spirit of these maritime marauders.
Conclusion
The trope of pirates having parrots ultimately stems from the real-life buccaneer Captain Henry Morgan and his feathered companions. As one of the most successful privateers operating in the Caribbean during the 1600s, Morgan’s exploits were widely chronicled. Eyewitness accounts noted his affection for keeping pet parrots, which contributed to his flamboyant, swashbuckling image.
Morgan’s parrots rode along on his ship voyages and raids, even accompanying him ashore. His daring adventures against Spanish settlements gained renown, making him a legendary figure. The parrots became ingrained as part of Morgan’s identity and persona. Illustrations and tales depicting him with a colorful parrot perched nearby helped solidify the pirate-parrot association in popular culture.
The romanticized view of pirates as free spirits living by their own rules was furthered by Morgan’s legacy. Images of parrots conveyed tropical adventures while also humanizing Morgan. Throughout history, parrots have been favored pirate pets due to their intelligence, vocal ability, longevity and suitability for shipboard life. Though exotic, they were easily obtainable for pirates in trade route ports.
Captain Henry Morgan remains one of the most famous buccaneers from the Golden Age of Piracy. His daring exploits and beloved pet parrots helped create the enduring connection between pirates and parrots that continues to fascinate and entertain to this day. While hardly realistic, it conjures up nostalgic notions of high seas escapades and tropical dangers long past.
