Edward Neville

Edward Neville (fl. 1675–1678) was an English buccaneer and pirate. He is best known for joining George Spurre to raid Spanish Campeche.

History

After England withdrew from the Franco-Dutch War in 1674, Neville accepted a French privateering commission to sail against Spain. Jamaican Governor John Vaughan tried to recall English privateers to maintain England's neutrality in the continuing war but had little success. Morgan wrote, “and to all others acting under French Commissions as well English as French … they are welcome to this island and shall have all the privileges they ever had and Port Royal is free to them.”

Neville continued operating under his French commission, partnering with George Spurre in 1678 to sack Campeche.

Spanish Provincial Governor Antonio de Layseca y Alvarado was removed from office for failing to defend Campeche, though he was later reinstated. In retaliation he ordered Spanish forces (privateer and pirate Juan Corso among them) to capture or drive off English logwood cutters in his territory. An “Edward Neville” was still living on Jamaica as of 1698, where he was employed as a judge; it is unknown if this was the buccaneer Neville, though other ex-pirates such as Morgan, George Dew, and Josiah Burgess retired from piracy to serve in similar capacities.