“To Banter the Age”: Sir William Phips and the Wonders of the Modern World.

PHIPS, William, Sir, 1651-1695; INFLUENCE (Literary, artistic, etc.); DEFOE, Daniel, ca. 1661-1731; MATHER, Cotton, 1663-1728; SLOANE, Hans, Sir, 1660-1753; SALVAGE (Maritime); THEORY of knowledge; MODERNITY

The article explores the influence of the life and career of colonial governor and treasure hunter Sir William Phips on authors Daniel Defoe, Cotton Mather, and Hans Sloane. The author reflects on literary representations of magic, alchemy, and fantasy related to Phips that challenged the epistemic boundaries of modern Protestant empiricism. Emphasis is also given to topics such as risk in economic projects, the development of the salvage industry, and quixotism.