Alexander Oliver Exquemelin (1645-1707)

This book was first published in Dutch at Amsterdam in 1678 as De Americaenche Zee-Roovers. The English version was translated from the Spanish version in 1684. the authors name was anglicized to that of John Esquemeling. Born a Frenchman, most probably a native of Harfleur in Normandy, Exquemelin came to the new world as a indentured servant for the French West India Company in 1666. For three years he served on the island of Tortuga, a haven for buccaneers at the time. He then joined the buccaneers, possibly as a barber-surgeon. Alexander Exquemelin accompanied Henry Morgan, a legendary figure of piracy who later became the governor of Jamaica, on most of his expeditions.