History of Isla Taboga

Rosa de Lima was best known for her humility and kindness to those in need. The sick, the lame, and the suffering flocked to her for comfort and religious guidance. She died on August 24, 1617, in Lima, reportedly of tuberculosis, at the age of 31. Rosa was beatified by Pope Clemente IX on April 15, 1667, and canonized on April 12, 1671.

Pirates on Taboga
 Pirates, including the infamous Henry Morgan and Francis Drake, frequented the island, using the harbor as a base to attack Spanish ships and the town itself, or simply as a place to catch their breath and stock up on supplies between raids.

On August 22, 1686, the ship of Captain Townley, who was in command of English and French buccaneers, was in Taboga Bay when it was attacked by three Spanish ships. During the ensuing battle, one of the Spanish ships blew up, and Townley’s men confiscated the three vessels. The pirates had taken a number of Spaniards as prisoners but lost one man and had 22 wounded, including Townley himself. The buccaneer captain sent a messenger to the President of Panama demanding supplies, the release of five imprisoned pirates, and ransom for Townley’s captives. Townley said that heads would roll if his demands weren’t met. When the president ignored the threat by sending only medicine, Townley sent him the severed heads of 20 Spaniards in a canoe. This got the president’s attention, resulting in the release of five prisoners and a large ransom payment.

Las Tres Cruces Three cannons on Isla Morro, manned by 10 Spanish soldiers, fought off the attacks of pirate Captain John Illingworth and his party of Chileans in 1819. During a second attack, however, the invaders overtook Taboga, sacking and burning the village and causing island residents to flee high up into