[1][2][3] After being arrested in Lucca for refusing to give up his guns and pointing one at a guard, Wright settled in Livorno and became a merchant.
[1] Wright's capture of a French ship in December 1746 carrying the baggage of the Prince of Campo Florido (the Spanish ambassador to France) led to a dispute over whether a pass from King George to the Prince covered his luggage; English authorities in Italy decided that it did, and Wright was forced to give up a portion of what he had seized.
[4] Another capture by the Fame, that of the French Hermione on 26 February 1746/7, led to a dispute over Turkish property on board.
Wright was jailed by authorities in Tuscany in December 1747 for refusing to turn over profits from the sale, but was freed in June 1748.
Local authorities attempted to restrain Wright, but finally allowed him to leave port with a few guns on the St. George and four merchant vessels; once off-shore, Wright moved armaments which he had hidden in the merchant cargoes to the St. George and prepared his ship for battle.