Captain Henry Morgan Book Report

Of all the pirates that plundered the Spanish Main in the 17th century, one name stands above all others to this day: Captain Henry Morgan. Far from the fun-loving, happy-go-lucky rogue that Hollywood (and a certain rum manufacturer) portrays today, Henry Morgan led an army of unruly, ruthless renegades who were able to win battles against impossible odds; his victories have been said to rival the actions of Caesar and Alexander the Great. Morgan’s exploits are chronicled in the book Empire of Blue Water, written in 2007 by Stephen Talty. I selected this book for two reasons: first, I believe that one can learn as much about leadership from a rogue as they can from a “traditional” leader, and second, I have a keen interest in the history

Morgan knew that to be a successful privateer, he must balance both personal and position power. He used position power (specifically reward power) to motivate his subordinates: as pirates “voted on how many shares of treasure each pirate would get,” greater success as a leader in battle resulted in greater financial reward for his crew. To further encourage acts of bravery, crewmembers received individual incentive bonuses for receiving injuries or for courageous acts such as being the first to board an enemy ship, for pitching a ladder up against a wall, or for throwing a grenade into a fortification. In addition to position power, Morgan’s application of personal power (both expert and referent) was demonstrated time and again and was likely a major contributing factor to his success. He was by all accounts a true expert, and his reputation preceded him: at a young age, he had achieved the rank of captain, proved his talents as a soldier and had an innate ability to lead men, without the benefit of family riches or political connections. However, he also wielded referent power: according to reports, Morgan “had the common touch and was able to motivate even the most hardened privateer.” Whenever doubted by members of his crew, he “infused such spirit into his men as were able to put every one of them instantly upon new designs.” Clearly, Morgan’s skillful application of power resulted in the total commitment of his men, and was essential to his success as a