What follows is the true story about the shipwright, the last commanding officer of Gagliana grossa, and many other characters with different occupations, positions and reputations who were directly or indirectly involved in the ship’s story. The data are substantial, but space is limited, so the intriguing fates of certain individuals have been left to the side. The archival materials have dictated the content, and all extant lacunae are due to respect for the limitations imposed by available documents.