Of course his name clearly shows that he was Scottish but he was also a soldier of fortune where he fought for and against the armies of Portugal and Spain in Central America and Florida. When he travelled to London in 1820, he began telling people that while in Central America he came across an amazing new country by the name of Poyais and that he was put in charge of the country to help them get started because of his amazing contacts around the world. He showed everyone hand-drawn maps of the beautiful country along with their Constitution which granted numerous freedoms that Britain wasn’t offering at the time.
MacGregor was very charismatic and became the toast of London. He was attending lavish parties where he was able to network with people who had a lot of money. He talked everyone up about Poyais and how it had plenty of room for growth so the financial opportunities were outstanding.
People were fascinated by what he was saying and he began selling lots and getting investments for start-up business. He sold people Poyaisian Bonds. He even awarded some people high-level positions in Poyais’ government.
Hundreds of excited people ended up leaving London on two ships to move to Poyais. Not long after this, MacGregor disappeared. He had stolen everyone’s money and was on the run. The excited settlers arrived at the location they were told to go and all they found was jungle; the country of Poyais didn’t exist.
Even though social media wasn’t around back then, many of the people he swindled were very influential and they made sure word got out about what MacGregor did and they paid bounty hunters to track him down. Instead of being able to enjoy the riches he stole, he had to keep moving.
Eventually Venezuela allowed him to become a citizen and provide him protection as long as he would be an officer in their military which he did and eventually he became a general. He became a national hero and when he died he received full military honors by the leader of Venezuela.
MacGregor pulled one of the greatest scams in history which will end up being his legacy; this is sad considering he was a brilliant military strategist. Not the first person to have a brilliant career overshadowed by a misdeed.
MacGregor was very charismatic and became the toast of London. He was attending lavish parties where he was able to network with people who had a lot of money. He talked everyone up about Poyais and how it had plenty of room for growth so the financial opportunities were outstanding.
People were fascinated by what he was saying and he began selling lots and getting investments for start-up business. He sold people Poyaisian Bonds. He even awarded some people high-level positions in Poyais’ government.
Hundreds of excited people ended up leaving London on two ships to move to Poyais. Not long after this, MacGregor disappeared. He had stolen everyone’s money and was on the run. The excited settlers arrived at the location they were told to go and all they found was jungle; the country of Poyais didn’t exist.
Even though social media wasn’t around back then, many of the people he swindled were very influential and they made sure word got out about what MacGregor did and they paid bounty hunters to track him down. Instead of being able to enjoy the riches he stole, he had to keep moving.
Eventually Venezuela allowed him to become a citizen and provide him protection as long as he would be an officer in their military which he did and eventually he became a general. He became a national hero and when he died he received full military honors by the leader of Venezuela.
MacGregor pulled one of the greatest scams in history which will end up being his legacy; this is sad considering he was a brilliant military strategist. Not the first person to have a brilliant career overshadowed by a misdeed.
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