Real Life Pirate Inspirations

**Golden Age Pirates (1650-1726)**

**Nassau**- Capitol City of the Bahamas on the island of **New Providence**. The republic was dominated by two famous pirates who were bitter rivals – Benjamin Hornigold and Henry Jennings. Hornigold was mentor to pirates such as the famous Edward Teach, known as "Blackbeard", along with Sam Bellamy and Stede Bonnet. Jennings was mentor to Charles Vane, 'Calico' Jack Rackham, Anne Bonny, and Mary Read. Despite their rivalries, the pirates formed themselves into the 'Flying Gang' and quickly became infamous for their exploits.

1.       **Benjamin Hornigold**- First Captain of the Ranger and a Pirate of Nassau that sailed with his Lt Blackbeard, as well as other famous pirates: Charles Vane, Black Sam, Captain Napin, Daniel Stillwell, John Cockram, and John West He was later pardoned and became a **pirate hunter** and pursued his former allies on behalf of the Governor of the Nassau Bahamas.

2.       **Edward “Blackbeard” Teach**- an English pirate who operated around the West Indies and the eastern coast of Britain's North American colonies. After serving as a Lt to Benjamin Hornigold in a crew with Stede Bonnet, he later became Captain of Queen Anne’s Revenge. Crewmates: Lt Richards, Stede Bonnet, Richard Worley. He met Charles Vane at Ocracoke island.

3.       **Charles Vane**- A cruel English pirate who preyed upon English and French ships. His pirate career lasted from 1716 to 1721. His flagship was the Ranger. His death was by hanging at Gallows Point, Port Royal, Jamaica. Crewmates; Jack Rackham: Anne Bonny & Mary Read, Nicholas Woodall,

4.       **Henry Jennings “Captain Flint”**- English privateer that served as leader of the growing pirate colony in Nassau, or the Republic of Pirates the pirate haven  of New Providence.

5.       **Calico Jack Rackham**- initially the quartermaster to Charles Vane on the Ranger, he later deposed of Vane and became the captain. He is most remembered for two things: his first mate Karl Starling who designed the Jolly Roger flag, a skull with crossed swords, which contributed to the popularization of the design, and for having two female crew members: Mary Read and his lover, Anne Bonny.

6.       **Anne Bonny**- One of the most famous female pirates and the wife to Calico Jack. Bonny took part in combat alongside the men, and the accounts of her exploits present her as competent, effective in combat, and respected by her shipmates. Governor Rogers had named her in a "Wanted Pirates" circular

7.       **Mary Read**- Famous female pirate that sailed with Calico Jack and Anne Bonney.

8.       **Samuel “Black Sam” Bellamy**- he and his crew captured at least 53 ships, making him the wealthiest pirate in recorded history. He likened himself to Robin Hood and earned the nickname Prince of Pirates. Voted as new captain of Benjamin’s Hornigold former crew.

9.       **Stede Bonnet “The Gentleman Pirate”**- Ceded his ship’s command and began to sail with Blackbeard.

10.   **Isreal  “Basilica” Hands**- Blackbeard’s Quartermaster. **Black Ceasar**- Blackbeard’s lieutenant

11.   **Edward England (Seegar England)**- Charles Vane’s Quartermaster. **Howell “Howling” Davis** and his partner **Olivier “La Buse”** mutinied EE and captured more rich prizes off the Gold Coast.

12.   **Josiah Burgess**- Captain of the Providence Ship Crew. He is best known as one of the heads of New Providence’s “Flying Gang.” Alongside Benjamin Hornigold and Henry Jennings, Burgess was among the most influential pirates in Nassau. Quartermaster: **Rounsivell**

13.   Howell Davis- Mutined the Edward England as captain

14.   **John Auger**- Along with his crewmate **Phineas Bunce** are famous for being captured by pirate turned pirate-hunter Benjamin Hornigold.

15.   **Thomas Barrow**- Self proclaimed governor of New Providence. Husband to **Kissing Kate Barrow**.

**Port Royal**- Provided a safe harbor initially for privateers and subsequently for pirates plying the shipping lanes to and from Spain and Panama. Buccaneers found Port Royal appealing for several reasons. Its proximity to trade routes allowed them easy access to prey, but the most important advantage was the port's proximity to several of the only safe passages or straits giving access to the Spanish Main from the Atlantic.The harbour was large enough to accommodate their ships and provided a place to careen and repair these vessels. It was also ideally situated for launching raids on Spanish settlements. From Port Royal, Christopher Myngs sacked Campeche and Henry Morgan attacked Panama, Portobello, and Maracaibo. Additionally, buccaneers Roche Brasiliano, John Davis and Edward Mansvelt used Port Royal as a base of operations.

1.       **Henry Morgan**- a Welsh privateer that formed a base in Port Royal Jamaica. His success came from raiding settlements and shipping on the Spanish Main.

**2.       '***Bartolomeu Português**-  A Portuguese buccaneer who attacked Spanish shipping in the late 1660s; he also established one of the earliest sets of rules popularly known in pirate lore as "'*****the Pirate's Code**.

3.       **Roche Braziliano**- a notoriously cruel buccaneer who operated out of Port Royal, Jamaica. Later sailing in company with Sir Henry Morgan and Joseph Bradley among others. Braziliano's first mate Yellows eventually became a captain in his own right, sailing with Braziliano, Morgan, and others in raids against the Spanish

4.       **Jelles de Lecat “Yellows”-** Dutch buccaneer that served with Henry Morgan & Brazilano.

Pirate Hunters

https://www.thevintagenews.com/2017/02/09/pirate-hunters-risked-their-lives-to-bring-the-golden-age-of-piracy-to-a-close/

1.       A

**The Pirate Round**- A sailing route that linked ports in the Caribbean and the North American colonies with Madagascar. Pirates attacked ships loaded with the exotic products of India.

**Libertatia**- was a purported anarchist colony founded in Madagascar by pirates under the leadership of Captain **Oliver** **Misson and Thomas Tew**.

1.       **Henry Avery “The King of Pirates”**- Captain of the **Fancy** and infamous for being one of few major pirate captains to retire with his loot without being arrested or killed in battle, and for being the perpetrator of what has been called the most profitable pirate heist in history. His exploits captured the public's imagination and inspired others to take up piracy

2.       **William Captain Kidd**- Pirate Hunter turned pirate. Usurped his captain Jean Fantin and took over the Blessed William. Crewmates: Quatermaster Hendrick van der Heul, Culliford, Samuel Burgess

3.       **Thomas Tew**- A fearless pirate that embarked on two major piratical voyages and met a bloody death on the second journey, and he pioneered the route which became known as the Pirate Round.

4.       **George Dew**- was a pirate, privateer, and buccaneer. He once sailed alongside William Kidd and Thomas Tew, and his career took him from Newfoundland to the Caribbean to the coast of Africa.

5.       **Adam Baldridge**- An English pirate and one of the early founders of the pirate settlements in Madagascar.

**Tortuga**- the island was the strongest and safest buccaneers' port in the mid-17th century, a place from where they launched numerous attacks on Spanish colonies. For decades Tortuga was pirate haven and the best place to sell captured plunder.

1.       **Francois L'Ollonais**- French buccaneer from Tortuga that sacked Maracaibo with a fleet of eight ships and a crew of 440 pirates alongside his companion **Michel le Basque**.

2.       **Henry Morgan**-

Other (https://anime.stackexchange.com/questions/29999/how-many-characters-are-based-on-real-life-pirates)

1.       **Bartholomew “Black Bart” Roberts**- The most successful pirate of the Golden Age of Piracy, estimated to have captured more than 470 vessels. Quatermaster: **Thomas Sutton**

2.       **Edward "Ned" Lowe**- captained a number of ships, usually maintaining a small fleet of three or four. Low and his pirate crews captured at least a hundred ships during his short career, burning most of them. Although he was active for only three years, Low remains notorious as one of the most vicious pirates of the age, with a reputation for violently torturing his victims before murdering them. Crewmates: Quartermaster **Francis Farrington Spriggs**, Shipton.

3.       **Cheng Sao**- A feared female Chinese pirate. She commanded over 15k ships and 80k sailors. She was killed by Portuguese bounty hunters.

4.       **Sir Francis Drake**- An English Sea Captain, Privateer, and Naval Officer that completed the 2nd Expedition across the world.

5.       **Peter “Pistol Pete” Easton**- Perhaps one of the most successful of all pirates. He controlled such seapower that no sovereign or state could afford to ignore him and he was never overtaken or captured by any fleet commissioned to hunt him down.

6.       **George Lowther**- (Black Guy?) Captain of the Happy Delivery.  His lieutenant was Ed Low.

7.       **Nicholas Brown**- among a large group of pirates who accepted the 1717-1718 pardon offered to pirates by King George. Like several others, he soon returned to piracy He was finally caught and defeated in battle by pirate hunter **John Drudge**.

8.       **Turn Joe**- An Irish pirate that commanded a trio of ships. His fleet was attacked by John Auger and Phineas Bunce, which he defeated in battle. After their retreat they were captured and hung by Benjamin Hornigold.

9.       **Sir John Hawkins**- A famous Privateer and Naval commander.

10.   **Awilda**- a female pirate

11.   **Hizir Reis “Hayreddin” Barbarossa**- An Ottoman privateer and later Admiral who dominated the Mediterranean for decades with his elder brother **Oruc Reis (Urouge) Barbarossa. Red Beard**

12.   **John Crabbe**- best known for his successful use of a ship-mounted catapult.

13.   **Eustace the Monk**- He was a mercenary for both England and France.

14.   **Jean Fleury**- French privateer that seized three Spanish ships carrying Aztec treasure from Mexico to Spain in 1523.

15.   Christopher Myngs

16.   **Cheung Po Tsai “Chui A-poo”**- Chinese Pirate that lead 20k pirates

17.   Pedro Gilbert, "Red Legs" Greaves, Jean Lafitte, Olivier Levasseur, Thomas Cavendish, John Hawkins

Female Pirates

1.       Ching Shih- Red Flag Fleet

2.       Grace O'Malley

3.        Charlotte de Berry

4.       Hetha & Wisna Gesta-  Norwegian Pirate sisters

5.       Jacquotte Delahaye

6.       Anne (Rachel) Dieu-Le-Veut

7.       Awilda (Gothic)

8.       Teuta of Illyria

9.       Jeanna de Clisson

10.   Christina Anna Skytte

11.   Charlotte Badger- Australian Pirate

12.   Flora Burn