Jean Bernanos

Jean Bernanos (b. c. 1648 - d. 1695) was a French buccaneer, privateer, and pirate active in the Caribbean and across Spanish Central America.

History

Born in France, Bernanos moved to Saint-Domingue where he cruised against the Spanish in 1677 without success. He may have joined other buccaneers such as William Wright in various adventures over the next two years. In a 6-gun, 86-ton, 100-man vessel he sailed against Chepo in Panama in late 1679 but was repulsed by Spanish defenses despite help from native tribes. At the San Blas Islands he joined an English expedition led by John Coxon alongside Robert Allison, Thomas Magott, Cornelius Essex, and others who collaborated to sack Spanish Puerto Bello. The buccaneers looked for a new target and Bernanos suggested allying with the natives near Darién based on their willingness to help against the Spanish.

Bernanos operated out of Petit-Goâve in the 1680s. Commanding a 60-man, 6-gun vessel in 1684, he sailed to Venezuela's Orinoco River alongside Rose, Francois Grogniet, and others to capture Santo Tomé. The privateers took little booty but remained there for a few months before Bernanos returned to his wife and home at Port-de-Paix. The Governor employed him as a privateer during the Nine Years' War, during which he captured several ships and participated in multiple expeditions against France's enemies. He was killed in 1695 while defending settlements in Saint-Domingue against a raid by English and Spanish troops, after which Governor Jean-Baptiste du Casse took in Bernanos’ children.