# Edward Dempster

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For the 19th century industrialist, see [Edward Dempster Merrick](/source/Edward_Dempster_Merrick).

**Edward Dempster** ([fl.](/source/Floruit) 1667–1669) was a [buccaneer](/source/Buccaneer) and [privateer](/source/Privateer) active in the Caribbean. He is best known for his association with [Henry Morgan](/source/Henry_Morgan).

## History

Dempster received a commission as a privateer from Governor of Jamaica [Thomas Modyford](/source/Thomas_Modyford) in 1667.[1] Sailing his [frigate](/source/Frigate) *Relief* against the Spanish under his privateering commission, he captured the ship *Nuestra Seora de la Concepción y San José* off [Campeche](/source/Campeche).[a] His prize was confirmed upon his return to Jamaica, where the ship and its cargo were sold to future Governor [Hender Molesworth](/source/Hender_Molesworth). It was renamed *Crescent* and sent back to England, where the Spanish ambassador lodged a complaint and requested its return.[2]

While Morgan gathered a large buccaneer fleet to cruise against [Puerto Bello](/source/Puerto_Bello) and [Venezuela](/source/Venezuela) in 1668, Dempster took 300 men to blockade [Havana](/source/Havana), possibly in attempt to aid Indian natives who had reportedly rebelled against the Spanish.[3] His forces cruised between Havana and Campeche but the expedition was unproductive and by year's end Dempster sailed to [Ile à Vache](/source/Ile_%C3%A0_Vache) to rendezvous with Morgan.[4]

In January 1669 Morgan had gathered over 1000 buccaneers and a fleet of ships, including the warship *Oxford*. With such a massive force they planned to attack rich and well-defended [Cartagena](/source/Cartagena,_Colombia). Morgan and several captains (Dempster not among them) were dining aboard the *Oxford* when it was blown apart, possibly by an accidental spark in the [powder stores](/source/Gunpowder).[4] Morgan and a few others survived but over 200 sailors and officers were killed. With their much-reduced numbers Morgan decided to loot [Trinidad](/source/Trinidad), but the fleet broke up en route when other captains chose their own targets.[2]

Now with only 500 buccaneers remaining, Morgan was persuaded to attempt a repeat of [L'Olonnais](/source/L'Olonnais)' sack of [Maracaibo](/source/Maracaibo) instead. Dempster and six other commanders accompanied Morgan to Venezuela and joined his [successful raid of Maracaibo and Gibraltar](/source/Henry_Morgan's_raid_on_Lake_Maracaibo), the last record of Dempster's buccaneering.[5]

## See also

- [John Morris](/source/John_Morris_(pirate)) – Another buccaneer captain who stayed with Morgan through the Maracaibo campaign.

## Notes

1. Referred to in various sources as *Nostra Seora de la Concepcion y San Joseph, Our Lady of Conception and St. Joseph*, or *Nuestra Señora de la Concepción Y San José.*

## References

1. Sainsbury, W. Noel (1880). [*America and West Indies: January 1668 | British History Online*](http://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/colonial/america-west-indies/vol5/pp534-546). Vol5 ed. London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office. pp. 534–546. Retrieved 8 August 2018.

1. Marley, David (2010). [*Pirates of the Americas*](https://books.google.com/books?id=bU6ML_VnXTwC). Santa Barbara CA: ABC-CLIO. ISBN 9781598842012. Retrieved 12 September 2017.

1. Cruikshank, E. A. (1935). [*The Life of Sir Henry Morgan*](https://www.fadedpage.com/showbook.php?pid=20110405). Toronto: THE MACMILLAN COMPANY OF CANADA LIMITED. p. 92. Retrieved 8 August 2018.

1. Barbour, Violet (1911). ["Privateers and Pirates of the West Indies"](https://books.google.com/books?id=efZIAQAAMAAJ). *The American Historical Review*. **XVI** (3 April 1911): 529–566. American Historical Association. [doi:10.2307/1834836](https://doi.org/10.2307/1834836). [JSTOR 1834836](https://www.jstor.org/stable/1834836). Retrieved 8 August 2018.

1. Marley, David (1998). [*Wars of the Americas: A Chronology of Armed Conflict in the New World, 1492 to the Present*](https://books.google.com/books?id=rdvp3cGJUZoC). Santa Barbara CA: ABC-CLIO. p. 265. ISBN 9780874368376. Retrieved 8 August 2018.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Edward Dempster](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Dempster) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Dempster?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.