Although Tortuga was already known by the native peoples, it was never used as a permanent settlement until European pirates made it into a launching ground for piracy activities. By 1640, the buccaneers of Tortuga were calling themselves the Brethren of the Coast. The pirate population was mostly made up of French and Englishmen, along with a small number of Dutchmen. In 1645, in an attempt to br
ing harmony and control over the island, the acting French governor imported roughly 1,650 prostitutes, hoping to normalize the unruly pirates' lives. Subsequently, the pirates were never really controlled and kept Tortuga as a neutral hideout for pirate b***y. In 2013, the Rum Dumb Pirate, James Danger realized the need for fellow travelers of all types to have a similar neutral ground available to escape the hardships of modern society. Thus raising the flag in his garage as a beacon of hope for all that seek relief from life’s choppy waters.
