Jamaica was the main base for Henry Morgan’s 1671 attack on Panama.
Morgan was a Welsh privateer commissioned by England during conflicts with Spain. Although he is often grouped with pirates, he operated under a privateering commission for much of his most famous career. Jamaica became an important English base in the Caribbean, and Port Royal served as a staging point for attacks against Spanish possessions.
In 1670, Morgan assembled a large force at Jamaica and sailed toward the Spanish mainland. His expedition crossed the Isthmus of Panama and captured Panama City in January 1671. The raid produced major plunder and cemented Morgan’s reputation as one of the Caribbean’s most successful privateering commanders.
The attack happened after the Treaty of Madrid had changed Anglo-Spanish relations, creating political complications for Morgan. He was later knighted and became lieutenant governor of Jamaica. Jamaica is therefore the specific island linked to the expedition’s base, while Panama was the location of the city he attacked.