Editing Galápagos Islands (section)

===Pirate era===
[[File:Gallapagos Islands 1684.jpg|thumb|left|250px|The chart of the Galápagos published by the [[English people|English]] pirate [[William Ambrosia Cowley]] in 1684, the source of many of the islands' English names]]
[[File:Galapagos islands RMG K1111.jpg|thumb|right|250px|A manuscript map of the islands from the charts drafted by [[James Colnett]] of the British [[Royal Navy]] in 1793, adding additional names]]
The first English captain to visit the Galápagos Islands was [[Richard Hawkins]] in 1593.{{fact|date=May 2023}} Until the early 19th century, the archipelago was often used as a hideout by (mostly English) pirates who attacked [[Spanish treasure fleet]]s carrying gold, silver, and supplies from [[Spanish Peru|Peru]] to [[Spanish Panama|Panama]] and [[History of Spain (1700–1808)|Spain]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Latorre |first1=Octavio |date=1995 |title=Los Tesoros Escondidos de las Islas Galapagos |url=http://aquaticcommons.org/6704/1/NG_54%2655_1995_Esp_Latorre_Tesoros_escondidos.pdf |journal=Noticias de Galapagos |issue=55 |access-date=21 February 2018 |language=es |page=66 }}</ref> The [[English people|English]] pirate [[William Ambrosia Cowley]] thoroughly mapped the islands in 1684 while sailing on [[John Cook (pirate)|John Cook]]'s ''Batchelor's'' or ''Bachelor's Delight'' and [[John Eaton (pirate)|John Eaton]]'s ''Nicholas'' as they raided Peruvian shipping.{{Sfnp|McEwen|1988|pp=234–236}} One cargo captured that year was 7{{ndash}}8 [[tun (unit)|tun]]s of [[quince]] [[marmalade]], whose remains scattered pottery around the islands.{{sfnp|Jackson|1993|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=TlxzU6i_LV0C&pg=PA2 2]}}<ref>{{citation |last=Civallero |first=Edgardo |date=1 December 2021 |url=https://galapagueana.darwinfoundation.org |title=Galapagueana |contribution-url=https://galapagueana.darwinfoundation.org/en/contents/cont001c.html |contribution=Pirates and Jelly |publisher=Charles Darwin Foundation |location=Brussels }}.</ref>{{sfnp|Benz|2000|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=YPBccPXLsJ4C&pg=PA32 32]}} Publishing the first thorough chart of the islands, Cowley coined the English names for 16 of the islands, chiefly honoring English royalty, nobles, and Jamaican officials of the era who might provide future patronage.{{sfnp|McEwen|1988|pp=234–236}} 

In 1793, during the early [[French Revolutionary Wars]], the [[British Navy|British]] [[ship's captain|captain]] [[James Colnett]] described the flora and fauna of Galápagos and suggested the islands could be used as a base for [[whaling|whalers]] operating in the Pacific. Colnett improved upon Cowley's chart, coining additional names{{sfnp|McEwen|1988|pp=234–236}} although accidentally transferring Cowley's Charles Island from Española to Floreana.{{sfnp|McEwen|1988|p=237}} Whalers and [[maritime fur trade]]rs killed and captured thousands of the Galápagos tortoises to extract their fat. The tortoises could be kept on board ship as a means of providing of fresh protein, as these animals could survive for several months on board without any food or water. The hunting of the tortoises was responsible for greatly diminishing, and in some cases eliminating, certain species. Along with whalers came the fur-seal hunters, who brought the population of this animal close to extinction.