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Who was Woodes Rogers and how did he fight piracy in The Bahamas?

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Flag of The Bahamas — The Bahamas The flag of The Bahamas was officially hoisted on July 10, 1973, the date of the nation's independence from the United Kingdom.

Woodes Rogers (c. 1679–1732) was an English privateer who gained fame for his circumnavigation of the globe and his rescue of Alexander Selkirk, the inspiration for Robinson Crusoe.1

In 1717, the British crown appointed Rogers as the first royal governor of the Bahamas, specifically tasking him with the suppression of piracy in the region. Upon his arrival in Nassau in 1718, he encountered a stronghold occupied by more than 2,000 pirates.12

Rogers utilized a combination of military force and diplomacy to restore order:
* The King’s Pardon: He offered a royal pardon to those who chose to surrender, successfully convincing approximately 1,000 pirates to abandon their criminal activities.2
* Enforcement: For those who refused to repent, Rogers employed a disciplined troop of soldiers to maintain authority, eventually hanging eight unrepentant pirates.2

His efforts were highly effective, leading to the adoption of the colony's motto, Expulsis piratis restituta commercia ("Pirates repulsed, commerce restored").2