Louis Michel Aury was a one-time asociate of Simon Bolivar, as governor and naval chief. Aury has been described by historians as a buccaneer, who was commissioned by th Mexican revolutionists in the Hidalgo movement to secure Galveston island. Aury flew his own flag (see: www.tamu.edu/ccbn/dewitt/Spain3.htm) and was credited with flying the flag of Nicaragua in the struggle against Spain in 1818 when he was Commodore of an Argentine squadron.

Don MacKay, owner R/V Explorer