Historic Spanish Privateer ‘La Fortuna’ Discovered Among Colonial Shipwrecks

Large section of possible La Fortuna shipwreck exposed on Brunswick Town shoreline.

August

/ 2025

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Maritime archaeologists from East Carolina University have uncovered a remarkable collection of four colonial-era shipwrecks along the historic Brunswick Town shoreline in North Carolina, including what seems to be the remains of the Spanish privateer La Fortuna that exploded during a daring 1748 attack. This extraordinary discovery provides unprecedented insights into 18th-century maritime warfare and colonial port operations along the Cape Fear River.

The groundbreaking find represents one of the most significant underwater archaeological discoveries in recent years, offering a rare glimpse into the violent conflicts that shaped colonial America's coastal communities.

The Spanish Privateer's Final Battle

Historical records document that La Fortuna launched an audacious assault on Brunswick Town in September 1748, during the closing days of King George's War, explains an East Carolina University press release on the discoveries. The Spanish vessel from Cuba exploded near the colonial wharves, likely due to a direct hit to its powder magazine during fierce combat with British colonial defenders. Dr. Jason Raupp, assistant professor in ECU's Department of History and maritime studies program, explained that wood species analysis revealed construction materials sourced from either Monterey cypress or Mexican cypress, indicating Spanish Caribbean origins.

"We are extremely excited about these important sites, as each one will help us to better understand the role of BTFA [Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson State Historic Site] as one of the state's earliest colonial port towns," Raupp stated in the release.

ECU Maritime Studies professor Dr. Jason Raupp leads the emergency recovery of an intact section of wreckage from the possible La Fortuna shipwreck. (Jeremy Borrelli/ Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson State Historic Site)

A Fortunate Find

The discovery occurred when maritime studies graduate student Cory van Hees became disoriented while measuring colonial wharf structures in the murky Cape Fear River waters and stumbled upon wooden frames protruding from clay mud.

The suspected La Fortuna wreck lies close to where diver Dennison Breece recovered an 18th-century cannon in 1985, believed to be from the same Spanish vessel. This proximity strongly supports the identification, as does the unique wood species analysis showing construction materials from Spanish colonial territories.

Additional Maritime Archaeological Treasures

Beyond the Spanish privateer, the ECU research team documented three additional shipwrecks that illuminate different aspects of colonial maritime activity. One vessel appears to have been deliberately positioned for land reclamation projects, reflecting the practical reuse of damaged ships in expanding the colonial port infrastructure. Another wreck shows characteristics of a colonial flatboat, the workhorses of 18th-century river transportation that ferried goods and passengers between Brunswick Town and surrounding plantations.

The archaeological survey also revealed remarkably preserved colonial port infrastructure, including two timber-crib wharves and a causeway spanning the historic marsh. These structures demonstrate the sophisticated engineering required to establish major trading ports in challenging estuarine environments. The discoveries include numerous artifacts that provide intimate details about colonial life, international trade networks, and military conflicts.

Wharf structure features recently exposed from erosion, preserved beneath the Cape Fear River waters. (Jeremy Borrelli/ ECU Program in Maritime Studies)

Van Hees, whose discovery sparked the broader investigation, reflected on the emotional impact of finding the potential La Fortuna remains. "It was kind of overwhelming and a little emotional feeling once it set in," he shared, describing how his disorientation in the murky waters led to one of the most significant maritime archaeological discoveries in North Carolina's colonial history.

Spanish majolica pottery fragment recovered from the site. (Jeremy Borrelli/ ECU Program in Maritime Studies)

Colonial Brunswick Town and King George's War

Brunswick Town occupied a strategically crucial position as North Carolina's first permanent European settlement on the lower Cape Fear River. Founded in 1725 by Maurice Moore, the port quickly became a major hub for colonial trade, serving as the official Port of Entry for the Lower Cape Fear region by 1731, describes the Historic Sites NC website. The town hosted two provincial governors and represented one of the most prosperous colonial settlements before the American Revolution.

The 1748 Spanish attack occurred during the final phase of King George's War, when Spanish forces launched coordinated raids against British colonial ports along the southeastern coast. These attacks represented desperate attempts by Spain to disrupt British colonial commerce and demonstrate Spanish naval power in contested American waters. The explosion of La Fortuna during the Brunswick Town assault marked one of the most dramatic episodes in this broader conflict.

Archaeological evidence suggests the Spanish privateer carried significant armament, as indicated by the recovered cannon and the vessel's explosive destruction. Privateers operated under letters of marque, granting them legal authority to attack enemy shipping while serving their nation's military objectives. La Fortuna's mission likely included disrupting British trade routes and gathering intelligence about colonial defenses.

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Urgent Conservation Challenges

The discoveries face immediate threats from accelerating coastal erosion that has exposed these previously protected archaeological sites. Recent channel dredging, increased storm activity, and dynamic wave energy have contributed to significant shoreline damage at Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson State Historic Site. The research team documented extensive deterioration of the unprotected estuarine marsh where the shipwrecks were discovered.

Emergency recovery efforts resulted in the successful extraction of over 40 shipwreck timbers from the suspected La Fortuna site. These artifacts demonstrated remarkable preservation, including visible tool markings left by 18th-century shipwrights. All recovered materials were transferred to the North Carolina Office of State Archaeology's Queen Anne's Revenge Conservation Laboratory at ECU's West Research Campus for analysis and preservation treatment.

The ongoing research project benefits from collaborative partnerships with the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, including the Division of State Historic Sites, Office of State Archaeology Underwater Archaeology Branch, and the nonprofit Friends of Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson. Wood species identification expertise was provided by the U.S. Forest Service's Forest Products Laboratory, demonstrating the interdisciplinary approach required for complex maritime archaeological investigations.

Top image: Large section of possible La Fortuna shipwreck exposed on Brunswick Town shoreline. Source: ECU Program in Maritime Studies

By Gary Manners