The city at the mouth of Kingston Harbor was once a famous base for pirates and privateers. The pirates used Port Royal as a base to raid the treasure ships of the famed Spanish Main. At one time pirates from all over the world gathered in the city under the protection of the notorious British governor and pirate Sir Henry Morgan. At its height in the late 17th Century, Port Royal contained four forts and 2,000 buildings. Famous visitors included notorious pirates like Calico Jack, Charles Vane, and Blackbeard. Most of Port Royal sank beneath the Caribbean in an earthquake in 1692. The city sank because the silt it was built on gave way during the earthquake. Modern archeologists have discovered that much of the city, including pirates' taverns, docks, and ships are still preserved under Kingston Harbor.