History's Greatest Conman!
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- Опубліковано 4 жов 2024
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Gregor MacGregor was a Scottish soldier, adventurer, and con man who invented a Central American country called “Poyais,” in 1820 which he claimed to rule as the “Cazique.” MacGregor attempted to draw British and French investors and settlers to his fictional country. Hundreds invested in Poyaisian government bonds and land certificates, while about 250 emigrated to MacGregor’s invented country. MacGregor’s Poyais scheme has been called one of the most brazen confidence tricks in history.
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Woah, I thought this was going to be a video on John Law, but enjoyed it nevertheless. I was going to suggest a video on John Law, but you already made one 3 years ago! Its also a great video - and an incredible tale - but your youtubery has come a long way! Congrats. You should publish your reading list somewhere.
Doesn't seem far fetched at all. I believe you could buy a lordship in the British Raj and a British citizenship by paying 100 or 1000 (I forget which one exactly) silver pieces in tax per year. You would obviously use that influence, to acquire positions in the British Administration if you were educated/qualified. In essence to make more money. The British Raj patronized it's fair share of "entrepreneurs".😂
Not a fan of the Ai thumbnails tbh
I like that this Scotsman got away with it Scot free. I mean all versions of his freedom are Scottish aren't they?
History's greatest conman is Elon Musk.
I love the shade thrown toward Established Titles sponsorships.
Despite the later claims that it was always meant to be a gag gift, their early ads are scammy as hell.
I'm all for Graham Stephen shade as well !
@@dlxmarks I wonder if anyone got a Lord credit card as they advertised lol.
That guy was so dishonest even his real name sounds fake
😂 And not surprisingly Connor MacGregor is actually a distant descendant.
@@The_ZeroLine Now there needs to be a film about this guy with Connor MagGregor as the actor that portrays him
@@ggg21201 I’m down to crowdfund it.
He needs a movie the original "great imposter"
"This wasn't just the Fyre Festival".. the sarcasm is timed brilliantly 😂
It's a funny thing about collectors, they want a genuine copy of a fake bond, rather than just printing their own copy.
yeah authentic replica!!
@@jerrywood4508 Ironically it is estimated that as much as 10-15% of the money in circulation in the Confederate States of America during the period 1861-1865 may have been counterfeit.
These guys would absolutely sue you if you scammed them with a fake bond you whipped up with an inkjet printer and some egg whites to "age it". Without A HINT of irony, mind you.
@@scotttyson607 Yeah counterfeiting an opponent's currency to debase its value is standard warfare practice.
A fake bond, but a real artifact.
My god imagine fighting in the Napoleonic Wars under a 16 year old officer who bought their way in
Not quite. Patrick has glossed over the details here, as the rank purchasing system was far too complicated to be worth explaining in this video. A 16 year old would have entered the army at ensign rank, so wouldn't have had any command duties. Ensigns carried the regimental colours and were like trainee officers, that learned on the job. The Lieutenants and Captains would have made the command descisions, on the low level.
You couldn't buy a rank without the consent of a superior and a space being available. And you could still be demoted/discharged without compensation. An inexperienced civilian couldn't just waltz up and make himself a general.
@@BritishHistoryGuy I saw he was an ensign, but assumed ensigns would still be next in line if the lieutenant or other senior officers fell
@@BritishHistoryGuyIt's definitely simplified and a touch misrepresented here, but there are enough British Military "whoopsies" of that era under that system of "promotion" that I wouldn't blame anyone for getting the impression that that's how it worked lol
@@sammyjones8279wellingtons army was officered by this system
"British Military 'whoopsies' of that era" .... The island containing England, Wales and Scotland IS somewhat small but promotions within the British Military leave a lot to be desired, especially for the men under their command.
I mean, does anyone here recall how that War outbreak from that pesky British Colony in North America turned out? The battle of Gallipoli (Ottoman Empire territory) was VERY poorly planned by an arrogant bunch of "to the Manor born" individuals (one of them, more of a social climber, would be Prime Minister during WW2). WW1 again; the Battle of the Somme, where German commanders were astonished that the British command did not make any adjustments.
Now, other than Churchill, I haven't looked up the commanders from that era but Browning and Urquhart (and Montgomery) all went to swell Private Schools before quickly moving up the chain of command to get extraordinary powers. Urquhart himself couldn't believe that he was put in charge of so many soldiers so soon before Market Garden. He had no prior experience with Airborne Troops - at all.
Browning would drop with 500 support staff and set up a command post near Nijmegen, making the American General Gavin (tasked with those 3 Bridges). his beyatch. Browning directed Gavin's actions directl,( instead of staying in England). Using so many aircraft for just his staff didn't help Gavin either, plus Gavin now had 500 clerks to protect. Both Browning and Urquhart DID set themselves up nicely in houses they commandeered, however.
General Taylor (10st) had no such constraints and so, he and his men did their thing. British XXX Corps would advance past all American positions but while fully one third of ALL men for the "Market" portion of Market Garden lay ahead (and they were from the same countries as XXX Corps). British XXX Corps would advance no further. The British, Welsh, Scottish (and Polish) Troops in front of them, having reached just one side of one of the 2 Bridges they were supposed to seize were abandoned. Those still alive and able were forced to retreat by the cover of darkness.
Public School graduates Taylor and Gavin would receive commendations and keep their jobs. Private School Graduates Browning and Urquhart were "put out to pasture" with plenty of WW2 still ahead. Urquhart had few men left alive or able under his command anyway.
What an absolutely astounding story. I would marvel at the ability of people to be utterly taken in, but the state of US politics shows that there is no lack of such people today.
Go on…
I am astounded that there are people who can be so utterly cruel!😮
Agreed. The similarities surrounding the narcissism are unmistakable.
True, the fact that there are still people willing to vote Democrat after the last 4 years is just mind-boggling. It's hard to believe people could be so dumb, but then videos like this come along, so maybe being stupid is just something humanity will never get over.
@@Ln-cq8zu Yes, but if they haven't learned to stop voting Democrat yet, obviously being cruel isn't a problem for them
Patrick Boyle is why I love UA-cam. He's a perfect example where, if you assume that the other person knows more or something that you do not, your life will be enriched.
Loved this. Oh, and you can pick up one of the real fake bonds, signed on eBay for a cool $1200 😁
People are aldo selling fake Theranos swag too.
I dont understand who would buy that. Debunked, labelled, demonstrably worthless AND fraudulent... How many more red flags would someone need?
Great episode of Absolute Mad Lads. Dankula lost a lot of weight too. And got better at speaking English.
This video was wild. I had to basically start it over just to explain to my partner why I spent thirty minutes muttering “no fucking way” with increasing incredulity.
I have the same problem with my parents. They have stopped responding when they know I'm on the computer. This dystopian nightmare is just the new normal now. 😮💨
It's almost like watching someone claim to be planning a settlement on Mars.
Funding secured?
People have been doing that since the 1890's. About the same amount of time that people have been claiming electric cars will supersede internal combustion engines.
😂😂😂
I love how you made this topically relevant
Not really, as the Spanish empire in Latin America was collapsing and new countries really were being established. And for impoverished Europeans the possibility of a new start in the Americas was a very attractive proposition. In Patagonia, for example, there is a substantial community descended from Welsh immigrants. And Bernardo O'Higgins is a hero in several South American countries.
If we learn anything from history, is that we learn nothing from history. Thanks - George Hegel
Yes.
Because if we did, religions would have been gone a long time ago.
“In 1821 Gregor MacGregor a 19th century Scot soldier and adventurer..”.. just knew I’d like this video from the off 😂
Mr. Boyle, you have a nearly unique talent for making accountancy properly entertaining. For perspective, I say this as a truck driver with an 8th grade education. Well done, sir.
Haha
Patrick looking dapper today!
Yeah, the bow tie and glasses combo is on point
Job interview.
But ... can he tie that bow himself?
My thoughts exactly. Rocking that bow tie. Will watch the video later. A great and stylish wit.
He doesn't even look like a CGI generated figure in this setting. Very cool! I was beginning to wonder...
Wonderful story.
This was a time when people in Europe were looking for opportunities elsewhere. Many found it. I have in-laws who have a farm in central Illinois in a county bordering the Mississippi and Illinois rivers. I used to hunt in an area near the Berlyn (I think that's how you spell it) where there were also the foundations of a house. This was the first homestead of this family, many of whose decedents still live in the area. The family was from the lower classes in England and in the early 1800s were convinced in the opportunities in the US. They sold everything, left their two oldest children back in England and set sail for New Orleans. Their ticket was for a location on the Illinois. When they arrived there by barge they were let of at a flat spot on the bank. There was nothing but forest around. After being helped by some locals they were able to establish themselves. After a time, they had a good amount of land they had homesteaded. They were actually able to rent some of this land out to others. The mother journeyed back to England to visit here grown children, one of whom was an English teacher and author. He wrote a book with her describing the family's experience. They had gone from the landless lower class to landowners with productive farmland in a fairly short period of time.
I tell this story partly because of my connection to it, but also because it illustrates something important in the MacGregor tale. People at that time were becoming successful migrating to far off places in other countries. So, his tall tales would not be considered outrageous.
😂😂 Stolen lands feel-good stories. you got me there for a second. . .Stop sugar coating past atrocious land grabs
@@Siriuan Rewriting history, are we.
‘Scot free’ - nice one, Patrick 😂
I'm not sure if that's where the saying comes from, but if it is the case, then a humongous amount of people have taken it on board! 😮
@@Ln-cq8zu Not its origin but a fair joke.
Cheaters never prosper was the biggest lie I've ever heard in my lifetime.
Trump has this tattooed on his ass followed by "LOL"
Yeah sorta depressing isn't it.
How about your mother saying
"Don't start thinking you're better than anyone else" ? Well mom , I've been out on the street with a bunch of other people and the hell I'm not ! You took a good look around lately , mom?
@@ToddiGreat-le2qu So you're stupid? Got it!
Cheaters came up with that to keep competition down
I was already familiar with McGregor's story and his fantasy nation, but Patrick's story telling is awesome, as always. I can't believe that this hasn't been made into a Hollywood movie yet. If it has and I missed it, can someone please point me in the right direction? This is next level Cpt. Jack Sparrow skullfnckery, honestly.
I lost it at “funding secured.” 😂
Well done!
The bonds simply had 'HODL to the moon' printed on them.
hodl?
@@InservioLetumHODL
@@neppc1 ?????
@@InservioLetum It's an acronym for "Hold On for Dear Life."
@@Jackoderes ...wait someone let slip the anchors on the MOON?!? But that is a CATASTROPHE! We have to TELL PEOPLE!
🤭😜 Thanks for the help though, good on ya. 👍
The hobbit connotation at 0:27 is so savage!
I think he has more in common with Saruman, and he happens to be standing on the exact spot where Saruman died.
Who else would date a wood nymph?
I don't think I could trust a guy named Gregor MacGregor 😂
Connor MacGregor based himself on Gregor MacGregor. lol, that name is like someone named Nick McNick.
@@The_ZeroLine yea it's kinda like the saying "never trust a man with two first names" 😂 .. a lil' different but same idea.
You're thinking of the other Gregor, Gregor Gregory Jr.
@@notroll1279 Oof.
@@MM22966 I’m friends with Gregor Gregory Jr. He has the coolest leopard SB Dunks 👟
It starts out as an audacious fraud scheme and turns into a genuine horror show. Just imagining those settlers getting off those ships to be met with completely undeveloped land is horrifying.
In Germany we have a whole bunch of people, who actually believe to be living in a "parallel" country, the German Empire. They have deluded themselves into believing that - due to some strange legislative error - the Federal Republic is not the official successor of the Third Reich. There is one shady character, who lied about his connections to "old monarchy" and therefore claims to be legitimate prince and sovereign of said "Empire". People actually fell for that silly idea, so much so, that some were even prepared to take up arms and stage a coup in Berlin. 😂
Was that the Patriotische Union affair in 2022? Funny how political movements can claim legitimacy by believing that human society is governed by rigid legal technicalities and not by general consensus.
That whole thing is just so weird. Like, what did these people think was going to happen?
@@GorgeDawes I am at a loss of words. Being conservative and a little old-fashioned myself, I am at times exposed to circles, in which some of these ideas had been thrown about by single individuals, in jest, to be edgy. At least, so I thought.
The lack of critical thinking is mind-boggling. 😄
....wait what? WWWWHAT?!?!
Here in the USA we have hundreds of thousands ( perhaps millions) of people with the same sort of magical thinking skills. They will believe any wild idea put forth on the Internet.
Michael Rafter lived before Einstein, so he couldn't know "two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity"
At least there was no animated coin driving a Lambo around.
ani-- WHAT?
I enjoy your financial analysis but these historical videos are so so interesting! So many fascinating people out there.
Bow Ties are cool😊 Back in the 90s, some people I used to work with were trying to get me into a pyramid scheme they had fallen for. They were so excited it had a website. Documentatiion of any kind impresses people.
Hi Patrick, proof that you are a man of quality is the real bow tie. My late father got me into them about 25 years ago. He bought his in Harrods when on trips from Dublin to London. I occasionally get to wear one of his Harrods ties, now over 50 years old (somewhat like myself). Great content as always.
What most people don't know is that anyone can become a Chief in the Pimawa Tribe just by purchasing a single cubit of land in North Jakota..
12:18
"- I was wondering if you can teach me some local phrases."
- [...]*something-something impossible to understand at the highest degree[...]
-"Hm?"
-"You understand?"
(I'm dead :) )
The very casual „You understand?„ is pure gold 😂
I listened to him 3 times. Does he even speak English???
Can anyone here translate him pls? :D
@@IceQueenaliasIQ”Well it’s very hard to bring them to mind, this is the thing. It’s only, it’s alright…" *something unintelligible* “is that us?’
"Hm?”
“You understand?"
I speak Scottish Gaelic and mdhdhs usher hddns mdksf. Got it?
Reminds me of Joseph Smith.
Or L. Ron Hubbard
Well, Smith built a theocratic country that remains powerful today.
@@inferno0020 Exactly. Joseph Smith was far more successful - the con hasn't stopped.
In general, people were much better carnies back then
30:16 that's absolutely wild to me. Yes, there are DEFINITELY people who want a "genuine" version of these fraud bonds that McGregor himself made up over 100 years ago. And these exact people would be livid if you sold them a counterfeit fake bond 🤣🤣🤣
Cacique is a real word. It roughly means chieftain and is also a brand of white rum in Costa Rica and Nicaragua. Google Cacique alchohol.
Puerto Lempira is still a damn rough town but a British passport will save you - literally in my case - they are still grateful for those muskets
Tell us more about your salvation!
@@danielc6106 Well, he was there with a carriage of muskets, you know. The passport was for the taxes.
(I couldn't abstain myself :) )
Should be a movie! If only there was an actor named MacGregor!
Connor MacGregor?
Ewen MacGregor?
I’m reminded of the book ‘Strong Brown God’ by Ted Morgan that told the history of European exploration for the headwaters of the Niger River, where almost all the presumed explorers and settlers to Africa died.
But what made the story for me here was the ‘Kazeek Of Poyais’
A new take on Count Dankula's Mad Lads with an added layer of respectability.
I'm a history nerd and I can't believe I haven't heard this story before. Fascinating, I'll have to read the book
Loved the SBF background. I suspect his cell is a tad less comfortable than Bag End
"The Scots looked the world over for a land as cold and dreary as Scotland. They found it . . . in Canada"
Billy Connelly
Scotland is a marvel of nature and culture, and frankly so is Canada. Billy ConnOly may be enamoured of third world heat, but I most certainly am not.
@@user-bf3pc2qd9s There was a regiment raised in Scotland, the Canadian Fencibles, a fencible being a professional soldier whose service was restricted to home defence. Just as they were embarking for transit to Canada a rumour ran through the ranks that they were actually heading to the "Fever Islands" (i.e., the Caribbean) as replacements for the soldiers who'd sickened and died. They mutinied.
Apparently, they agreed with Billy.
Cold and dreary yes but remarkably free of malaria and nobles who own all the land.
As an aside, Version 2 of the Canadian Fencibles was raised in Upper Canada (Ontario) and served with distinction in the War of 1812.
@@user-bf3pc2qd9s They weren't even allowed to pack clean undies!
As a Canadian I can attest that much of this country is indeed cold and dreary. It's wonderful.
@@jimmason8502 See now THAT is advertising. Frank, open, funny, and human. I'm sold. 🥇
lord Palpatine of the internet, finfluencer, a true Scotman.
Cazique sounds similar to "Cacique", which in Portuguese means Chief (As in Indian Chief, for example).
Scotland mentioned 🏴🏴🏴🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻
I remember him from the Bolivar biography by Marie Arana. Brilliant biography of a fascinating and brutal war.
McGregor should have just gone to New South Wales, where Scottish conmen could make themselves wealthy "legally".
My favourite irish storyteller
Oh man.....i still can't believe we keep getting crap like amzaon lotr and Disney sw while there's an entire series of Gregor MacGregor just waiting for a competent writer.
I always wondered what Krankie based her bid for Scottish Independence on.
Um...
The YT tile reads:
History's Greatest Conman! Patrick Boyle.
Lol. Love it. You and your channel are the best!
He can't keep getting away with it.
My Dad, a Scot ex-pat, told me this story although not nearly as complete. He, being of the Gordon clan, opined often that the MacGregors were prone to stupidity. He also said, with equal fervor, that "the Irish are a defeated people!" Sometimes in the same breath. Of course, I never knew what any of that meant and simply took his word for it all. I'm sure neither of the aforementioned will miss him...but I sure do. (PS: He wasn't fond of the English either. For whatever that's worth?)
No one likes the English, not even the English.
That sounds a bit like Groundskeeper Willie: "They're natural enemies. Like Englishmen and Scots or Welshmen and Scots or Japanese and Scots or Scots and other Scots. Damn Scots, they ruined Scotland!"
Oh, Gregor McGregor. There's a name you can trust
That picture of Sam almost made me spit my beer out!
0:26
Incredible true story. The obvious question that remains unanswered is whatever happened to all of the MONEY?
The answer to your question is simple: Most of it went to pay ‘interest’ to early investors, who then support the fraud by affirming that their investment paid a high rate of return. Another major expense is producing all of those documents, maps, certificates and so on - the props for an elaborate theatrical production. Of course, a certain percentage is simply spent on the fraudster’s own gold-plated lifestyle, which, in his own mind, he deserves for being so clever.
This is a great tale of a scoundrel. Bravo!
Thanks!
Love your bow tie…and your sense of humour…. Thank you for bringing up this story. I hope the con-men of today meet uncorrupted judges….
Did anyone see Patrick blink? I didn't.
He is proof positive that we live in a simulation.
Yes but it's few and far between😅
I wonder if he wasn't the person who gave George McDonald Fraser the idea for his character Flashman.
It seems nobody thought to ask why a country with gold literally for the taking would need to borrow money
Great story, beautifully narrated.
Glad we are getting back into the real OG rap news content.
Sounds like Gregor is an ancestor of SBF!!
I always wondered who put their money behind these schemes.
And you just reminded me, the people who looked at a Russian bond issuance and went "maybe this time"
Cazique sounds much like Cacique, that's a tribal title used by the Indians in South America, it means tribal chieftain.
Scotland was the breeding ground of many remarkable talents.
It's like being strick by lightning two times in the same day and live to tell the story. What a luck!
4 years back it's NFT, Crypto, etc. now it's Generative AI. Still it's impressive to create your own Country. I am planning to sell all the stars and planets in Milky way and other known galaxies for 8 grams of gold/piece.
You have to understand difference between bubble and fraud. Machine learning is real and helping a lot, tge question is it is really worth trillions of dollars. The crypto is just a fraud.
I previously knew the bare bones of this story so this video was very helpful to fill in the details for me. Keep up the good work.
The OG established titles
Dude, what a wild ride that was. Excellent video! Love the deadpan humor as always
"Scott free". I see what you did there.😅😂🤑
The parallels are stunningly similar...the human mind of many of our fellow travelers is seemingly pre-programmed to fall under the spell of those brazen cons who promise near miraculous returns and to solve everyone's problems overnight....as if all those previously efforting to do the same but falling short were just subhuman idiots but thankfully the conman has both superhuman intellect and skills....trust him.
OML that SBF image
I’ve heard this story before but this is the best so far. 👍
THANK YOU MR BOYLE. AS ALWAYS I REALLY ENJOYED THAT
Yoo, gotta comment for additional exposure. We need to make sure these essay type videos don't die out.
Damn, I just missed the premiere. Happy Sunday from Canberra AU everyone, next time.
Absolutely LOVE Patrick and his humour.
Bucket of ice to go with that wit!
This story telling is so good.
The real hot ticket is Poyais Bitcoin.
My man Mr Patrick Boyle! Thank you so much for another great video.
Greetings from a Venezuelan!
Regarding Medals, you should have included pictures of King Charles who has ungodly amount of medals for doing absolutely nothing.
Too true.
Typical royalty
All pomp and no knickers 😂
nothing? he has been a busy man what with all his charity functions when he was prince.
A fascinating story, thanks!
Patrick any chance of you covering the fact that Ireland has started hoarding Gold Bullion and is now producing gold coins since 2022 ?
I like the bow and background. Amazing work as always.
What a story, haven't heard of him yet!
The collectors' market for his fake bonds remind me of Francis Leroy Henning. He counterfeited nickels and they're very collectable today. They even, very occasionally, show up in circulation.
Awesome telling of that story 🤩
These historical foci are a highlight of the channel. More, please.
Great telling, Thanks.
Just for the record, Simon Bolivar was the president of Bolivia, not Colombia.
Who was president of Colombia in 1819?
SBF as hobbit omg nice one😂
Thank you for the detail research.
Another great story! I love these
History is my favorite entertainment.... Mr Boyle you made my day
Absolutely Amazing Tale! I liked and subscribed. Well narrated (although I read the subtitles, through personal preference ) and fast moving...an absolute pleasure!❤❤❤
Amazing story. This my first time seeing on of you vids and your excellent precision on honing in on the myopic vision of the seducer and victims was both dramatic and funny. What is maybe of similar interest is the Scottish people whom lived and made central and South America their home. Many of them have passed down the their Scottish traditions through the generations to this day still teach Gregor MacGreger's dream /dilution
That moment when you realise you've been scammed and you can still see the boat sailing away on the horizon 😳💀
Jaysus, how much coffee does patrick consume? Looks like he's about to pop.