"The Attack on Monterey – Meet the Argentine Privateer..." Topic

… Who Captured Spain's California Capital.

"AS THE AGE of revolution swept across 19th Century Latin America, and Spain's once vast overseas empire collapsed in turmoil, an Argentine privateer sought to carry the struggle for independence far beyond the borders of his adopted homeland.

Originally born in France on Jan. 15, 1780, Hipólito Bouchard was a revolutionary at heart, having served in Napoleon's Egyptian Campaign and later accompanying French forces fighting in Haiti. For some unknown reason, he left Bonaparte's army at the height of victory and appeared around Buenos Aires in 1810. Shortly after his arrival, Bouchard joined the revolutionaries and found himself doing battle with his former adversaries: the Spanish. After enjoying some success at sea, in 1818 Bouchard embarked on his most audacious adventure yet. The 38-year-old mariner planned a circumnavigation that would see his ship, La Argentina, strike Spanish shipping off the Philippines. However, during his blockade of Manila, instead of seizing enemy treasure galleons, Bouchard could only find sixteen fishing vessels. While sailing for home in disgrace, the expedition stopped in Hawaii to allow his forces to rest. On landing, Bouchard immediately recovered an Argentine ship from mutineers…"
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