The Bold Story of Benito de Soto, One of the Last Spanish Pirates

The history of the Spanish coast is full of legends about famous pirates. Some of them were real, and others imaginary. There were some pirates who became famous figures for the regions they came from. Although it is hard to see a pirate as a local hero, stories about these individuals made many long winter talks much more interesting.

One of the infamous pirates known from history is Benito de Soto, a man who lived a short and fast life, breaking the rules and his limits every day. He was known as a dangerous pirate, a skillful sailor, and a true rebel. Benito was born in Galicia on April 22, 1805. Most sources suggest that he came from the city of Pontevedra or one of the villages near that city, but some also suggest a village in the region of A Coruna may have been his hometown.

The city of Pontevedra. (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Benito Soto Aboal grew up near the Atlantic Ocean. Wherever he lived as a child, his life was certainly full of ships and sailors, stories of the sea, and dreams of exploring new places. When he was a child, Europe was dominated by Napoleon Bonaparte whose wars changed the landscape of the continent forever.

Honest Sailor Turned Pirate

Benito was well-known on the waters. He was famous as one of the most organized plunderers of his time. However, his career as a pirate didn’t last long.