Dating back to 17th century, Port Royal used to be the grazing ground of European backed privateering spendthrifts. With its ostentatious displays of opulence and a population consisting of street scum, whores and cutthroats, Port Royal got degraded in morals and anarchy began to reign supreme. It was at this time that governments abandoned issuing letters of marquee against Spanish treasure fleets. Soon Port Royal, The Wickedest City on Earth or otherwise called The Sodom of the New World, became a breeding ground of pirates. Piracy grew as a lucrative occupation and soon Port Royal gained reputation as the Land of Pirates .It was at this time that Jack Smatt, the marauder, made his arrival on the scene. Jack Smatt arrived in Port Royal around 1660 in order to take advantage of the booming merchant trading between Europe and the New World. Insatiate with his accomplishments Black Jack, as he soon became known, joined the band wagon to pursue the more lucrative profession of privateering – the warranted attack on enemy ships. His unrivalled exploits in this notorious industry and hunger for supremacy eventually led him to the world of buccaneering.

Soon lady luck was smiling on Jack Smatt. But the lure of wealth would not elude Black Jack. Although Jack’s coffers were full, he would not rest.Meanwhile, off the Panama coast, a large Spanish galleon set sail and it was passing through his territory. This massive ship of around 200 tones was originally sent to protect the Spanish Maine, but was in for trouble. The stage was set for the world to witness one of the greatest heists at sea.

As the pirates drew near with Jack at its attacking helm, the Spanish vessel signaled for surrender. But the pirates and jack were flabbergasted when the merchant ship’s cannons roared. It was not to be for the ill-fated liner as a sudden gust of wind caused the shot to miss the target. It is alleged that it was at this same moment that the pirate crew used their grappling hooks to pull the ships together. The pirates immediately took control of the vessel and subdued the crew. This astounding feat made Jack’s name firmly etched in the history of buccaneering.

A Casanova to the core, Black Jack was infamous for his lascivious acts and was really a womanizer .He would binge on rum and was well-known as a rum drinker. During that time, rationing of rum was withdrawn by the ruling Crown. Jack Smatt took advantage of this situation and used rum as a bait to lure his crew. Soon rum became a part of the pirate lifestyle. Rum became such an essential part of a pirate’s life that any lack of availability would lead to conflict among them.

The period of 1650 – 1740, when pirates flourished, was known as The Golden Era.Smatt even concocted a special blend, created from rums carefully culled from the finest distilleries in Jamaica of the time. It went on to make a name for itself later by instilling in people the belief that anyone getting even an ounce would be showered with immense fortune.

An earthquake razed Port Royal in 1692 and the legend of Black Jack Smatt disappeared along with many other inhabitants of the city. It was deemed an act of Providence against the wayward lifestyle of the riffraff there. Descendents of Black Jack Smatt still live in Jamaica continuing to make their living from the sea. Ernie Smatt, once a world water-ski Champion is one of Smatt’s most notable descendants. Nowadays, Ernie Smatt controls much of the maritime tourism industry in the Caribbean and he operates from his own hotel in the Cutlass Bay.

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