Conversation so far:
how did Woodes Rogers prepare for his privateering expedition against the Spanish?
In late 1707, Rogers was approached by William Dampier, a navigator and friend of Rogers' father.
why did William Dampier approach Woodes Rogers?
William Dampier proposed a privateering expedition against the Spanish.

Question: what had happened to Dampier's career?
Self-contained rewrite: what had happened to William Dampier's career prior to approaching Woodes Rogers?