Woodes Rogers

English privateer and colonial administrator who circumnavigated the globe (1708–1711) and rescued Alexander Selkirk — the real Robinson Crusoe. Appointed Governor of the Bahamas in 1718, he suppressed the Pirate Republic of Nassau with a combination of royal pardons and hangings, ending the Golden Age of Piracy in the Caribbean. His motto: 'Expelled pirates, restored commerce.'

• Lived: 1679 CE – 1732 CE
• Nationality: English
• Roles: Naval Commander, Colonial Governor, Privateer

Related

• The Age of Exploration