Capitán de Navío Hipólito Bouchard Open Access

Intensive recent publication by the Argentinian Department of Historic Naval Studies has brought back into print Commander Ratto’s sketch of Bouchard, “one of the greatest corsairs that the sea has known.” Some fresh data, plus a biographical note by Captain Humberto F. Burzio, Chief of the Department, has been added to the original. Though the book is brief, it is filled with the author’s patriotic zest for, and interest in, the career of this Frenchman from the Provençal area. An almost innate hatred for Spain, a strong call of the sea, and the opportunities for glory and service to his espoused country of the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata led Bouchard into a checkered and fascinating career. “Corsair by temperament and natural inclination of spirit,” he fought heroically against a Brazilian fleet, campaigned as an officer of grenadiers with San Martín, was associated with Admiral Guillermo Brown, aided the British in the suppression of the African slave traffic, beat off an attack by Malayan pirates, ravaged and blockaded Manila, achieved the first diplomatic recognition of the Platine provinces from Kamehameha, sacked the California coast, and finally ran afoul of Admiral Cochrane. Accused by his enemies, forsaken by his friends, and suspected by his associates, Bouchard became a Peruvian. Death came to Bouchard at the hands of his own slaves in 1837, terminating the career of a mariner who circled the globe to strike blows against Spain for Hispanic American independence, and who was poorly paid for his pains.