Conversation so far:
how did Woodes Rogers prepare?
Rogers was approached by William Dampier, a navigator and friend of Rogers' father, who proposed a privateering expedition against the Spanish.
why did he approach rogers?
This was a desperate move on the part of Captain Dampier to save his career.

Question: what had happened to Dampier's career?
Self-contained rewrite: what had happened to Dampier's career?