Peter Easton, possibly born to a London family around 1570, was a privateer for Elizabeth I by 1602, commanding the Happy Adventure as convoy guard for the English Newfoundland fishing fleet with authority to press fishermen into service. When James I made peace with Spain in 1604 and canceled privateering commissions, Easton kept raiding under English colors and began extorting English ships, by 1610 blockading the Bristol Channel. He was financed by the Killigrew family of Cornwall, who fenced his plunder through ports they controlled.
In 1612 he returned to Newfoundland with 10 ships, fortified Harbour Grace, plundered 30 ships at St. John’s and released captive Sir Richard Whitbourne on condition that he lobby for a royal pardon. Whitbourne got the pardon, but Easton sailed instead to ambush the Spanish silver fleet near the Azores, arriving in Tunis with four captured ships. When the Duke of Savoy declared Nice and Villefranche free ports open to pirates, Easton arrived on February 20, 1613, with four ships and 900 men, left eight more ships near Gibraltar, invested 100,000 crowns and received a £4,000 annual pension and the title of Marquis.
- About 1,500 Newfoundland fishermen joined his fleet, most of them voluntarily.
- He protected John Guy’s settlement at Cuper’s Cove and prevented a colony at Renews.
- He converted to Catholicism and married a wealthy heiress after settling in Savoy.
- English agent William Parkhurst described his countenance as “rude and savage” and his speech as slow and guarded.
- A 1613 attack on Venice with French crews failed; he stayed on Savoy’s payroll until at least 1620, and his death is unrecorded.
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