Título: Woodes Rogers
Seção: Preparation and the early voyage
Background: Woodes Rogers was the eldest son and heir of Woods Rogers, a successful merchant captain. Woodes Rogers spent part of his childhood in Poole, England, where he likely attended the local school; his father, who owned shares in many ships, was often away nine months of the year with the Newfoundland fishing fleet. Sometime between 1690 and 1696, Captain Rogers moved his family to Bristol. In November 1697, Woodes Rogers was apprenticed to Bristol mariner John Yeamans, to learn the profession of a sailor.

Conteúdo: The War of the Spanish Succession started in 1702, during which England's main maritime foes were France and Spain, and a number of Bristol 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. One, Whetstone Galley, named for Rogers' father in law, received the letters before being sent to Africa to begin a voyage in the slave trade. It did not reach Africa, but was captured by the French. Rogers suffered other losses against the French, although he does not record their extent in his book. He turned to privateering as a means of recouping these losses. In late 1707, Rogers was approached by William Dampier, a navigator and friend of Rogers' father, who proposed a privateering expedition against the Spanish. This was a desperate move on the part of Captain Dampier to save his career. Dampier had recently returned from leading a two-ship privateering expedition into the Pacific, which culminated in a series of mutinies before both ships finally sank due to Dampier's error in not having the hulls properly protected against worms before leaving port. Unaware of this, Rogers agreed. Financing was provided by many in the Bristol community, including Thomas Goldney II of the Quaker Goldney family and Thomas Dover, who would become president of the voyage council and Rogers' father in law. Commanding two frigates, Duke and Duchess, and captaining the first, Rogers

user: how did he prepare?

assistant: ships were given letters of marque, allowing them to strike against enemy shipping.

user: why did he approach rogers?

assistant: At least four vessels in which Rogers had an ownership interest were granted the letters.

user: what had happened to Dampier's career?

assistant: Rogers suffered other losses against the French, although he does not record their extent in his book.

user: what error had he made?

assistant: Forty of the Bristol crew deserted or were dismissed, and he spent a month in Ireland recruiting replacements and having the vessels prepared for sea.

user: and did rogers agree to his proposal?

assistant: Rogers agreed.

user: what did he do after agreeing?

assistant: Rogers spent three years circumnavigating the globe.

user: was dampier with him on this trip?

assistant: The ships departed Bristol on 1 August 1708. Dampier was aboard as Rogers' sailing master.

user: did they have any problems on this voyage?

assistant: Rogers encountered various problems along the way.

user: what problems did he encounter?

assistant: Forty of the Bristol crew deserted or were dismissed,