Henry Johnson

John Cockburn, marooned by pirates Johnson and Poleas, swims to shore with the pirates' gunner. Henry Johnson (fl. 1730s) was an Irish pirate active in the Caribbean. He shared captaincy with a Spaniard, Pedro Poleas. Johnson was best known thanks to an autobiography written by a sailor he captured and marooned.

History

Johnson and Poleas jointly commanded the Rhode Island-built 18-gun, 90-man sloop Two Brothers. He was known as a ruthless and bloodthirsty pirate, said to be an excellent shot despite missing a hand: “though he has but one hand, he fires a piece very dexterously, laying the barrel upon his stump, and drawing the trigger with his right hand.” He was also said to keep loaded pistols with him, even when he slept, in case of surprise attack or to take his own life if capture was imminent.

In early 1730 or 1731 he attacked the 18-gun, 25-man John and Anne near Jamaica. The two vessels fought a five-hour running battle before the John and Anne surrendered. Johnson's pirates boarded and looted the John and Anne, threatening to hang its crew for daring to resist. :

In mid-1732 Johnson ("Henriquez") put in at Santiago de Cuba but his ship was seized when merchant factors complained to the Governor. Johnson traveled to Puerto Rico and attempted to bribe the newly-arrived Governor there but was refused and forced to pay a fine for his crimes, which had reached the ears of King Philip V of Spain.