The Smuggler King was a British smuggler of the 18th century, and a descendant of the British Royal family. As captain of the Devil Skipper, he and his crewman engaged in various criminal acts of smuggling and piracy.
Biography[]
Early Life[]
Youth[]
Ben Backstay and his son rescue the future Smuggler King
On 24 August 1774,[2] the future Smuggler King was sailing aboard the frigate Terrible on a return trip from Gibraltar. Promising weather turned violent and bombarded the ship with snow storms and a hurricane. In the midst of the storms, the Terrible struck a rocky outcropping in the sea and tore open the keel.
The crew and passengers took to a lifeboat, and spent the rest of the night pushing through the rainstorms. The next day, the lifeboat was capsised in an attempt to rescue a crewman who had fallen overboard. Only two survivors managed to keep hold of the boat, leaving the Terrible's teenaged midshipman and a young boy the sole survivors of the sinking of the Terrible.[3]
The two of them were found at sea by the fisherman Ben Backstay and his son Harry.
Death[]
| “ | So, the reign of the Smuggler King is at an end; no more shall his name strike terror over the watery deep! Curses light on this misfortune! That the star of destiny, which has so long shone so brightly upon me, should be thus set for ever! William, you triumph, but had not my hand failed many years ago, thou wouldst not have lived to see this day. | ” |
–The Smuggler King, to William Mordlington | ||
Mordlington, captured and out of options, feigned acceptance of his capture and pretended to have something for William.[4] He used the momentary freedom to escape to the side of the ship and leap overboard, but a dozen pistols were fired in the direction of his head. When Mordlington surfaced, he was bleeding profusely from his head. He let out a single laugh before sinking beneath the waves.[5]
Notes[]
Behind the Scenes[]
- "The Smuggler King" penny dreadful story was among those that proved influential on later superhero genre stories.[6]
Appearances[]
- The Smuggler King; or, The Foundling of the Wreck (first and final appearance)
Links[]
- The Smuggler King on International Hero
References[]
- ↑ The story began in 1774, and Mordlington was described as being roughly seventeen years of age.
- ↑ The Smuggler King; or, The Foundling of the Wreck - E. Lloyd - Published 1844 - Page 1 - Retrieved 4 May 2023
- ↑ The Smuggler King; or, The Foundling of the Wreck - E. Lloyd - Published 1844 - Page 2 - Retrieved 4 May 2023
- ↑ The Smuggler King; or, The Foundling of the Wreck - E. Lloyd - Published 1844 - Page 441 - Retrieved 4 May 2023
- ↑ The Smuggler King; or, The Foundling of the Wreck - E. Lloyd - Published 1844 - Page 442 - Retrieved 4 May 2023
- ↑ The pre-history of the superhero (I) - Marcos Martin - 29 March 2012 - Zona Negativa - Retrieved 30 April 2023