Famous

A short list of the better-known pirates,
and brief biographies thereof.

Sir Henry Morgan In his youth Henry Morgan went to the Caribbean Sea, eventually joining the buccaneers there. He operated as a privateer, being commissioned by the British authorities. His operations were always marked by brutality, Sent in 1672, as a prisoner to England on complaints of piracy, he soon became a hero, was knighted in 1673, and was made lieutenant governor of Jamaica, where he spent the rest of his life.
Blackbeard was also known as Edward Teach. In 1716-18 he preyed on shipping and coastal settlements of the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic coast of North America, becoming notorious for cruelty. Blackbeard captured a French slave ship that he rearmed with 40 guns and renamed the Queen Anne's Revenge. In November 1718 the governor of Virginia sent two Royal Navy ships to hunt Blackbeard down. They chased Blackbeard down, and Blackbeard was killed.
William Kidd Captain Kidd went to sea in his youth and later settled in New York, where he married and owned property. While in London in 1695 he was commissioned as a privateer to defend English ships from pirates in the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean. In 1696, Disease, mutiny, and failure to take prizes caused him to turn pirate. Returning in 1699 to the Caribbean Sea he learned of piracy charges against him. He sailed to New York to clear himself by claiming that the vessels he had attacked were lawful prizes. He was arrested and taken to London, where in 1701 he was tried on five charges of piracy and murder. He was convicted and hanged.
"Calico" Jack Rackham, Anne Bonny and Mary Reade "Calico" Jack Rackham was a small-time pirate who preyed on coastal shipping. Rackham was captured in May 1719 and pardoned; it was during this time that he met Anne Bonny and Mary Read. Bonny was the wife of a seaman-turned pirate; Read had been raised as a boy, dressed as a man and had served in the British Army and as a pirate. Rackham returned to piracy in August 1719. His crew included Anne Bonny and Mary Read. His ship was surprised in late 1720 off the coast of Jamaica. Rackham and his crew were apparently too drunk to fight; only Read and Bonny fought to defend the ship. Rackham and his crew were taken to Port Royal and hanged in 1721.
Charles Vane began his pirate career in 1716. Vane sailed north to the Carolinas, captured a few ships. A dry spell in prizes stirred mutiny and in October 1718 Vane was deposed by his quartermaster, Calico Jack Rackham. Vane rebounded quickly, mustering a few loyal shipmates, and returned to the Caribbean. In February 1719, Vane's ship was caught in a hurricane off Cuba; only Vane and a single crewman survived. Upon being rescued, Vane was recognized and sent to Port Royal for trial. He was hanged for piracy in November 1720.
Stede Bonnet was apparently a gentleman and plantation owner on Barbados who suddenly and inexplicably turned to piracy in 1717. He purchased his own ship, and sailed to the Virginia Coast, capturing ships along the way. In September 1718 Bonnet was captured after his ship ran aground. Bonnet escaped, but was recaptured and hanged for piracy in November 1718.
Bartholomew Roberts Roberts reached the Caribbean in the summer of 1720, capturing 15 British, French and Dutch vessels. By the spring of 1721 Roberts left the Caribbean after a six-month spree during which he captured over 100 ships. Arriving at the West African coast, Roberts preyed on slave ships. In February 1722, British warships closed on Roberts' ships, capturing one and engaging Roberts' flagship Royal Fortune in battle. Roberts was killed instantly in a broadside of grapeshot.

Heave to, ye swabs, and get yerselves back to the Main Deck!
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