A town on south coast of Jamaica built on a narrow strip of land about 1.6km long at the mouth of Kingston Harbour. A permanent settlement was first founded there in 1509 by the Spanish and was later captured by the English in 1655. Port Royal was ideally positioned with its natural harbour and central location, It quickly became a base for buccaneers and was sanctioned by the English Crown until about 1675. The population grew to almost 10,000 at its height. It soon earned the name of the wickedest city on earth, and there was even said to be one drinking house for every ten inhabitants. Buccaneering continued after peace with Spain in 1660, but with decreasing official acceptance. Henry Morgan, the famous buccaneer who led the attack on Panama City in 1671, became lieutenant governor in 1675, helping to suppress piracy. Jack Rackham and Charles Vane were both hanged there at Gallows Point. There was a devastating earthquake in 1692, from which the town never really recovered.