Born August 21, 1922, Hobart, Indiana
Died December 20, 1996, Key West, Florida

In 1494 the great maritime powers of Spain and Portugal agreed to the terms of the Treaty of Tordesillas, which divided the non-Christian world into two spheres of influence. Africa and much of Asia fell under Portugal’s dominion, while the Philippines and most of the Americas were added to Spain’s empire in the sixteenth century. Gold and silver and other valuables from these colonial possessions poured into Spain in vast amounts, and it became the richest and most powerful nation in the world.

Fleets of treasure-laden ships would regularly cross the Atlantic on return trips to Spain. Their precious cargo was coveted by pirates and privateers (owners of privately owned warships sanctioned by their governments to capture foreign ships) and foreign navies. To protect against attacks at sea, treasure transport ships needed to be...