Woodes Rogers was the eldest son and heir of Woods Rogers, a successful merchant captain. Rogers served a marine apprenticeship to a Bristol sea captain. His father died when Rogers was in his mid-twenties, leaving Rogers in control of the family shipping business. In 1707, Rogers was approached by Captain William Dampier, who sought support for a privateering voyage against the Spanish. Rogers led the expedition, which consisted of two well-armed ships, Duke and Duchess. En route, the expedition rescued marooned Alexander Selkirk, whose plight is generally believed to have inspired Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe. The expedition made Rogers a national hero, but his brother was killed and Rogers was badly wounded in fights in
About Woodes Rogers in brief
Woodes Rogers was the eldest son and heir of Woods Rogers, a successful merchant captain. Rogers served a marine apprenticeship to a Bristol sea captain. His father died when Rogers was in his mid-twenties, leaving Rogers in control of the family shipping business. In 1707, Rogers was approached by Captain William Dampier, who sought support for a privateering voyage against the Spanish. Rogers led the expedition, which consisted of two well-armed ships, Duke and Duchess, and was the captain of Duke. En route, the expedition rescued marooned Alexander Selkirk, whose plight is generally believed to have inspired Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe. The expedition made Rogers a national hero, but his brother was killed and Rogers was badly wounded in fights in the Pacific. Rogers was twice appointed Governor of the Bahamas, where he succeeded in warding off threats from the Spanish, and in ridding the colony of pirates. His first term as governor was financially ruinous, and on his return to England, he was imprisoned for debt. Rogers wrote of his maritime experiences in the book A Cruising Voyage Round the World, which sold well, in part due to public fascination atSelkirk’s rescue. Rogers died in Nassau at the age of about 53. He is buried in the Royal National Cemetery in London. He was buried next to his wife, Sarah Whetstone, who was a neighbour and close family friend of Rear Admiral Sir William Whet stone.
Rogers became a freeman of Bristol because of his marriage into the prominent Whetston family. In late 1707 Rogers was offered the chance to join the privateering expedition against the Spaniards. Unaware of this, Rogers agreed, and the two ships finally sank in a series of mutinies before leaving the port of Finisterre. He died in 1708, leaving a son and two daughters, and a wife, who died in childbirth in 1711. His son, Woodes Rogers, died in Bristol in 1706, leaving his ships and business to his son Woodes. His daughter, Sarah Rogers, was married to Captain John Yeamans, a Bristol mariner, and had a son, John Rogers, who went on to serve as a captain in the Newfoundland fleet. Rogers also had a daughter, Mary Rogers, and died in London in 1716. Rogers is buried at St James’ Park in London, along with his wife Sarah, and their two daughters Mary and Mary, who survived him by a few years. Rogers’ son, James Rogers, later became a ship’s captain and privateer, and lived in Bristol until his death in 1781. He also had two children, who were born in Bristol and died at the same time as his son. Rogers had a great deal of contact with the Bristol maritime society, and became a voting citizen of the city. His ships were given letters of marque, allowing them to strike against enemy shipping. At least four vessels in which Rogers had an ownership interest were granted the letters.
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