A former privateer in the service of the Viceroyalty of New Granada, Gilbert began raiding American merchant vessels off the eastern coast of Florida with his schooner, the Panda in early 1832.

On September 21, 1832, off the coast of what is now Stuart, Florida,[1] Gilbert chased then boarded the Mexican, an American brig bound from Salem to Rio de Janeiro carrying $20,000 in silver.

Gilbert was eventually captured in West Africa two years later when his ship was sunk in a naval engagement with the British brig sloop HMS Curlew, commanded by Henry Dundas Trotter.

[4][5] The remaining convict, Bernardo de Soto, the first mate and owner of the Panda, was pardoned by President Andrew Jackson on July 6, 1835.

There had been public pressure to spare his life since he'd helped save the lives of American passengers of a sunken ship several years back.