José Gaspar, also known by his nickname Gasparilla (supposedly lived c. 1756 – 1821), is a mythical Spanish pirate who supposedly terrorized the Gulf of Mexico from his base in southwest Florida during Florida's second Spanish period (1783 to 1821).

May 5, 2022 · In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, no pirate was more feared in the southern United States than Jose Gaspar. With his crew of cut-throat mercenaries, the “last of the buccaneers” terrorized shipping in the Gulf of Mexico for years, striking from his …

Jan 12, 2023 · Upon closer investigation, historians have found no evidence that the pirate José Gaspar ever actually existed. According to Spanish archives, American ship logs, court documents and...

Jan 27, 2024 · The legend of José Gaspar, according to an account by André-Marcel d’Ans and translated by Marie-Joèle Ingalls, Gaspar was a Spanish naval officer, who in the early 1780s mutinied against his...

According to legend, Jose Gaspar was very short of stature. However, he was a gifted navigator, a fine swordsman and a man of intelligence and ambition. Born in Spain in 1766, he worked his way into high position in the court of King Charles III.

Jan 9, 2025 · The “Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla” embodied the nautical theme by adopting the legendary pirate, Jose Gaspar, as the mascot of the city-wide celebration, and he has remained a patron of...

Jan 27, 2023 · Treasure hunters searching for gold on Useppa Island talk about the history of Jose Gaspar and the real man Juan Gomez as we celebrate the Gasparilla Pirate Parade in Tampa.

Who is Jose Gaspar, and what is the legend behind Gasparilla? Jose Gaspar, or Jose Gasparilla as he is also known, is the famed Spanish Pirate who invaded the coast of Florida hundreds of years ago. A former member of the Spanish Navy, Gasparilla was well-educated and intelligent.

Jan 21, 2020 · Gaspar was a pirate from the 1780s until 1821. While contemplating retirement, Gaspar decided to go on one last adventure. But, he attacked a pirate-seeking US Navy ship. Rather than being...

Jan 26, 2024 · Gaspar is often associated with the mythical Isle of Tortuga and is said to have been driven by a longing for a lost love named Isabella. They say that Gaspar took women captive on Captiva Island, and became the namesake of Gasparilla Island, a …