Owen Fitzpen

Owen Fitzpen (Phippen) was an English merchant enslaved by Barbary pirates who later organized a heroic escape and became a wealthy man. Owen was born during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I who succeeded to transform England in the major naval power after the victory over the Spanish Armada in 1588. The trade flourished and the merchant class of the country thrived. Owen himself traveled all around the world. However, in 1620 while he was on a trading voyage in the Mediterranean Sea he was captured by the Barbary pirates. After seven years of slavery, Owen persuaded other Christian captives, Dutch and French to fight against the Turks on the ship. The rebels managed to take over the ship and sailed to Catagene. After reaching Spain, Owen sold the ship for £6,000 and returned to England to his family as a rich man.