Famous Pirates in History | Pirate101 Free Online Game Famous Pirates in History As long as there have been Pirates, people have been enthralled with their adventures on the high seas! The earliest acts of piracy date back to the 14th century BC, but most famous Pirates of our history and culture reside in the 18th Century Caribbean waters. Anne Bonny Anne Bonny is the famous female Pirate of the Caribbean, where she started pirating after being disowned by her family when she married small-time Pirate James Bonny. Mingling with the local Pirates in taverns in the Bahamas, Anne became more adventurous after divorcing her husband and then marrying famous Pirate John “Calico Jack” Rackham. Together with her friend Mary Read, the three captured many ships, including the famous Revenge, and brought in tons of treasure! Anne never hid her gender, although it was rare for a big-time Pirate to be female, and she was known to be very effective in combat. Blackbeard Blackbeard and his ship Queen Anne’s Revenge make the most famous Pirate team in all of history. His thick, black beard and fearsome appearance were just as renowned as his treasure conquers.

Blackbeard supposedly even lit fuses under his hat to scare enemies! After forming a Pirate alliance and blocking the port of Charleston, South Carolina, Blackbeard ran Queen Anne’s Revenge aground outside of Beaufort, North Carolina and temporarily retired in a small town on the North Carolina Outer Banks. He missed the Pirate life though, and went back out to sea, only to meet his end in a ferocious battle with the Royal Navy. Calico Jack Calico Jack became the captain of his ship, Ranger, after the current captain decided not to pursue a large French vessel. Calico Jack and a small troop of 15 supporters branded the current captain a coward, and overtook the ship to sail on for gold and riches. He pirated around Jamaica and the West Indies with Anne Bonny and Mary Read. He was eventually captured at Dry Harbor Bay in Jamaica in 1720. Henry Every English born Henry Every or Avery was one of the most notorious Pirates of the 1600’s. He was one of the few Pirate captains that retired with his ship and all his treasure & loot without being captured or killed in battle.

Avery wasn’t always a Pirate though; he actually started his career on the sea in the British Navy. After being discharged he was commissioned by Charles II of Spain to prey on French Ships and eventually became Captain of his ship, The Fancy, after the crew mutinied. Avery went on to become the richest Pirate in the world after capturing a £600,000 bounty made up of precious metals and jewels. Mary Read Mary Read was born illegitimately in late 17th century England to a sea captain’s widow. Her mother used to dress Mary as a boy in order to fool her son’s grandmother into giving the family continued financial support. Because Mary was dressed as a boy, she first found employment as a footboy and then later on a ship – which introduced her to life on the sea. It wasn’t until she met a British sea Captain that Mary started dressing as a woman, but when her husband died she boarded a ship bound to the West Indies that became overtaken by Pirates. The Pirates that overtook Mary’s ship included Calico Jack and Anne Bonny, who Mary Read became friends with and then continued on with her pirating.

Stede Bonnet Stede Bonnet pirated in the early 18th century in Barbados, and was known as “The Gentleman Pirate” since he was a fairly wealthy land owner before he turned to a life on the seas. He bought his own Pirate ship and sailed it to Nassau in the Bahamas, and when he ran into the famous Pirate Blackbeard Stede Bonnet decided to let Blackbeard lead his ship for a while. The two worked together to capture merchant ships along the East Coast, but when they failed to capture a large prize all of Stede Bonnet’s crew fled to join Blackbeard on Queen Anne’s Revenge. When Bonnet sailed his ship up the Cape Fear River to make repairs, he was captured and his days of piracy were over. Fictional Old Ben Gunn Ben Gunn is a fictional Pirate from the Robert Louis Stevenson novel, Treasure Island. Ben Gunn was marooned by his shipmates for three years on Treasure Island because he failed to find the treasure on the map. Ben Gunn becomes friends with Jim Hawkins, the hero in the novel, after Jim helps him escape the deserted island.

Fictional Captain Blood Captain Blood is the hero of a 1922 adventure novel, Captain Blood: His Odyssey by Rafael Sabatini. In the beginning of the book, he doesn’t start out as a captain at all – instead he is an Irish doctor! While helping heal some wounded men at a rebellion, Blood is arrested and whisked away on a grand adventure even though he took no place in the rebellion himself. After being sentenced to slavery, Blood was taken to the Caribbean with the other convicts but his skills in medicine got him out working the fields at sugar plantations. Blood eventually escapes his captors and sails away with other convict-slaves to become one of the greatest Buccaneers in the Caribbean! Fictional Captain Jack Sparrow Everybody knows Captain Jack! This fictional Pirate from the Disney movie series The Pirates of the Caribbean is one of the most beloved Pirates of our pop culture. Made famous by the actor Johnny Depp in the first movie, The Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl (2003), Captain Jack is tricky, funny and all things we love about Pirates!

Famous Pirates of the Bahamas For Kids Famous Pirates of the Bahamas Blackbeard Edward Teach, known better as Blackbeard, was the fiercest and most feared pirate of all time. He earned the nickname "Blackbeard" because of his long black beard which almost covered his whole face. He would weave hemp into his beard and light it during battle. He was a fearsome sight to behold swinging swords and knives, with smoke rising from his beard. Often he looked so terrifying that his victims would surrender befre he even attacked them. Most of Blackbeard's crew believed he was the devil. Blackbeard began pirating around 1713. At the time he was just a crew member on Jamaican sloop commanded by the pirate Benjamin Hornigold. He fought many battles over his time as a pirate and the Bahamas was one of his favourite ports. On November 22, 1718 he was killed during a battle with the Royal Navy. It took five gunshots and more than twenty sword cuts to kill him. The victorious Royal Navy captain decapitated Blackbeard, and hung his head on the ships rigging.

During his five years as a pirate, Blackbeard plundered more than 40 ships, caused the deaths of hundreds of people and became one of the most famous pirates. John Rackham John Rackham was also known as "Calico Jack" because he wore multi-colored calico coats and britches. He was not one of the most notorious pirates and is best known for his association with two famous female pirates - Anne Bonny and Mary Read. John Rackham stole Anne Bonny anyway from her husband and they fought together in many battles at sea. Anne Bonny Anne Bonny was a headstrong, fiercely independent woman with a vicious temper and legendary courage. She was born in Ireland, out of wedlock to a maid in her father's home. She married a young soldier, James Bonny, for which she was turned out of her father's home. Later, Anne Bonny met the pirate Jack Rackham on New Providence, and she left her husband to join him at sea. Anne disguised herself as a man and became a fearsome pirate. She was eventually captured on Rackham's ship, along with Mary Read, another fearsome woman pirate.

Mary and Anne were never hanged though, the usual punishment for piracy, because both were found to be pregnant. Anne Bonny eventually disappeared and was never heard from again. Mary Read Born in London, Mary Read led a man's life. She was even raised as a boy. She ran away when she was about 13 to board a man-o-war ship. A few years later, she enlisted in the army, met a soldier, fell in love and opened an small hotel. When her husband died she began to dress like a man again and went back to sea. Her ship was captured by the pirate Captain Calico Rackham and that's when she met the female pirate Anne Bonny. Mary Read was not yet a pirate but she became friends with Anne Bonny and decided to joined John Rackham and Anne to became one of Calico's pirates. Read was later captured along with John Rackham and Anne Bonny but she escaped hanging due to her pregnancy. She died a short time later though of disease and fever, while still in prison. Sir Henry Morgan Morgan was born in Wales in 1635. Not many pirates earned the title "Sir" since they were considered to be criminals. But Henry Morgan did.

He was knighted in 1674 by King Charles II, after a pulling-off a daring and spectacular raid on one of the richest cities at that time - Panama City. He was one of the bravest, most intelligent and successful swashbucklers in all of history. Captain Morgan spent amuch time in the islands of the Bahamas. He would wreak havoc and he buried a great deal of treasure. Morgan's Bluff, the highest point on Andros Island, is named after Captain Morgan. Blackbeard and other Pirates - OuterBanks.com Follow Us Blackbeard and other Pirates The Southern Outer Banks, particularly Ocracoke Island , is notorious as the stomping grounds for some of history's most infamous pirates. Notable swashbucklers from Calico Jack to Anne Bonney and Mary Reed, arguably the most famous women pirates, have made a splash in this area, robbing privateers blind and making intricate, sneaky escapes in the inlets and soundside waters off of these barrier islands. The reason why Ocracoke Island in particular was so attractive to pirates is the same reason why it's attractive to modern Outer Banks vacationers: location, location, location.

During the late 1600s and well into the 1700s and beyond, Ocracoke and neighboring Portsmouth Island were two of North Carolina's biggest ports. With deep inlets and access to river channels to mainland North Carolina, many of the area's goods arrived and departed from the Portsmouth and Ocracoke harbors. Added to this was the fact that these particular barrier islands had ample hiding places. Consider the cluster of small islands that border both the ocean and soundsides of Ocracoke Island, protected and hidden by the tall oceanside dunes. These navigable channels allowed pirate ships to stalk their victims without notice and make quick getaways after an attack. So a combination of access and quantity of goods attracted pirates from the West Indies to Boston to tiny Ocracoke Island, and their tenure of destruction was well documented and seemed to spiral out of control, until the government stepped in and sent privateers to put an end to North Carolina piracy. The campaign to put an end to piracy was a long and tumultuous one, but it was greatly helped by the successful trapping and execution of the region's most notorious pirate, Blackbeard.

Blackbeard is one of history's most legendary pirates of all time, and the coast of North Carolina, from Ocracoke Island to the small inland town of Bath, has the rare distinction of being his favorite plundering grounds, his favorite hideout, and his home. Blackbeard was born Edward Teach and came to America from Bristol, England. Teach started his life at sea as a privateer during the Queen Anne's War, where he was authorized by the British Government to attack and plunder enemy merchant ships. The spoils were then divided by the government and the captain of the attacking ship. After a long and successful run as a privateer, the war ended in 1714, and Teach realized his source of income was over. As a result, and like a handful of others who were former privateers, he turned to piracy. For several years, Teach served as a crewmember on a pirate ship until 1717, when he commandeered a ship for himself and recruited a crew. He renamed the ship the "Queen Anne's Revenge" and began to plunder a number of ships off the Virginia and Carolina coastlines.

His most notorious expedition occurred in Charleston, South Carolina, where he captured several prominent citizens and held them hostage until the city agreed to pay him in medical supplies for their safe return. This incident put Edward Teach on the map as one of the region's most dangerous and fearless pirates. During this time, he also developed the name "Blackbeard" as a nod to his appearance and his notoriety as a cruel and violent pirate. A big believer in first impressions, upon approaching his prey, Blackbeard would dress all in black and twist his long wild beard into wisps secured with ribbons. Then he would stick long lighted matches under his hat and around his face, giving him a ghostly appearance that illuminated his wild eyes, and which many victims referred to as the face of the devil. This was an effective means of terror, as many ships would quickly surrender rather than fight this demon captain. When he wasn't at sea, Blackbeard would often return to the coastal and inland communities of North Carolina. As aforementioned, the shallow waters of the Pamlico Sound which separates the Outer Banks and Ocracoke Island from the Atlantic provided a perfect hiding spot.

As a result, Blackbeard spent a lot of time close to Ocracoke Island, his favorite hideout. In fact, there is still an inlet on Ocracoke Island today called "Teach's Hole," named in his honor. Besides having the cover and protection of the barrier islands along the coast, North Carolina in particular attracted pirates because of its less than strict government policy on piracy. The state governor during the Golden Age of Piracy, Charles Eden, was widely thought to simply ignore the activities of pirates along the coast, in exchange for an under the table share of the spoils. In fact, during the summer of 1718, when Blackbeard lived in the town of Bath, it was rumored that he socialized regularly with the governor himself, who was also his neighbor. Blackbeard apparently loved his life in Bath, but after a few months of living on shore, he would inevitably return to pirating to finance his lavish lifestyle. Meanwhile, the citizens of North Carolina who were tired of the hold that pirates had on their coast, turned to the governor of neighboring Virginia, Alexander Spotswood, for help.

Spotswood was far less tolerant of pirates, and commissioned a crew of Naval Officers, captained by Lt. Robert Maynard, to travel down to Ocracoke Island to find and capture Blackbeard. They did indeed find him just off the waters of Ocracoke, and at dawn on November 22nd, 1718, a fierce battle broke out between Blackbeard and Lt. Maynard. So embedded is Blackbeard in Ocracoke folklore, that is a popular wives tale that Ocracoke got its name because Blackbeard, impatient for the sun to rise and fight to begin, started shouting "O Crow, Cock!" in an effort to coax the roosters to start crowing and signal the beginning of the day. After suffering 25 wounds, including 5 gunshot wounds, Blackbeard was killed and his crew was defeated. As proof of the defeat and the end of Blackbeard's reign, Maynard cut off his head and hung it from the bow of his ship as he sailed home. Blackbeard's pirating career was brief, and lasted just a couple short years, but his legacy is unmistakable.

The world's most infamous pirate is considered one of North Carolina's historical treasures, as it was along the Outer Banks that Blackbeard lived, plundered, and eventually met his end. Biography of John “Calico Jack” Rackham Biography of John “Calico Jack” Rackham Jack Rackham's Flag. Openclipart.org Share By Christopher Minster John "Calico Jack" Rackham (1680?-1720) was an English pirate who sailed in the Caribbean and the Southeastern coast of the United States during the so-called "Golden Age of Piracy (1650-1725)." Rackham (also spelled Rackam or Rackum) was not one of the more successful pirates, and most of his victims were fishermen and lightly armed traders. Nevertheless, he is remembered by history, mostly because two female pirates, Anne Bonny and Mary Read , served under his command. He was captured, tried and hanged in 1720. Little is known about his life before he became a pirate, but it is certain that he was English.

Calico Jack, Pirate: John Rackham, who earned the nickname "Calico Jack" because of his taste for clothes made of brightly-colored Indian Calico cloth, was an up-and-coming pirate during the years when piracy was rampant in the Caribbean and Nassau was the capital of a pirate kingdom of sorts. He had been serving under renowned pirate Charles Vane in the early part of 1718 and had risen to the rank of quartermaster. continue reading below our video 10 Best Universities in the United States When governor Woodes Rogers arrived in July of 1718 and offered royal pardons to pirates, Rackham refused, instead joining the die-hard pirates led by Vane. He shipped out with Vane and led a life of piracy in spite of the increasing pressure put on them by the new governor. Rackham Gets His First Command: In November of 1718, Rackham and about 90 other pirates were sailing with Vane when they engaged a French warship. The warship was heavily armed, and Vane decided to run for it in spite of the fact that most of the pirates, led by Rackham, were in favor of fighting.

Vane, as captain, had final say in battle, but the men removed him from command shortly thereafter. A vote was taken and Rackham was made the new captain. Vane was marooned with some 15 other pirates who had supported his decision to run. Rackham Captures the Kingston: In December, he captured the merchant ship Kingston. The Kingston had a rich cargo, and promised to be a big score for Rackham and his crew. Unfortunately for him, the Kingston had been taken within sight of Port Royal , where outraged merchants outfitted bounty hunters to go after him. They caught up with him in February, 1719, while his ship and the Kingston were anchored at Isla de los Pinos off of Cuba. Rackham and most of his men were on shore at the time, and while they escaped capture by hiding in the woods, their ship - and their rich trophy - were taken away. Rackham Steals a Sloop: In his 1722 classic a General History of the Pyrates, Captain Charles Johnson tells the exciting story of how Rackham stole a sloop.

Rackham and his men were at a town in Cuba, refitting their small sloop, when a Spanish warship charged with patrolling the Cuban coast entered the harbor, along with a small English sloop they had captured. The Spanish warship saw the pirates but could not get at them at low tide, so they parked in the harbor entrance to wait for morning. That night, Rackham and his men rowed over to the captured English sloop and overpowered the Spanish guards there. As dawn broke, the warship began blasting Rackham's old ship, now empty, as Rackham and his men silently sailed past in their new prize! Return to Nassau: Rackham and his men made their way back to Nassau, where they appeared before Governor Rogers and asked to accept the royal pardon, claiming that Vane had forced them to become pirates. Rogers, who hated Vane, believed them and allowed them to accept the pardon and stay. Their time as honest men would not last long. Rackham and Anne Bonny : It was about this time that Rackham met Anne Bonny, wife of John Bonny, a petty pirate who had switched sides and now made a meager living informing the governor on his former mates.

Anne and Jack hit it off, and before long they were petitioning the governor for an annulment of her marriage, which was not granted. Anne became pregnant and went to Cuba to have her and Jack’s child, and returned afterwards. Meanwhile, Anne met Mary Read , a cross-dressing Englishwoman who had also spent time as a pirate. Piracy, Again: Soon Rackham got bored of life on shore and decided to return to piracy. In August of 1720, Rackham, Bonny, Read and a handful of other disgruntled ex-pirates stole a ship and slipped out of Nassau’s harbor late at night. For about three months, the new crew attacked fishermen and poorly armed merchants, mostly in the waters off of Jamaica. The crew swiftly earned a reputation for ruthlessness, particularly the two women, who dressed, fought and swore just as well as their male companions. Dorothy Thomas, a fisherwoman whose boat was captured by Rackham’s crew, testified at their trial that Bonny and Read had demanded the crew murder her (Thomas) so that she would not testify against them.

Thomas further said that if it were not for their large breasts, she would not have known that Bonny and Read were women. Capture of Jack Rackham: In late October, Rackham was discovered off the coast of Jamaica by those that were hunting him. Captain Jonathan Barnet had been hunting Rackham and his crew and he cornered them in late October of 1720. After an exchange of cannon fire, Rackham’s ship was disabled. According to legend, the men hid below deck while Bonny and Read stayed above and fought. Rackham and his whole crew were captured and sent to Spanish Town, Jamaica, for trial. Death and Legacy of Calico Jack Rackham: Rackham and the men were swiftly tried and found guilty: they were hanged in Port Royal on November 18, 1720. According to legend, Bonny was allowed to see Rackham one last time, and she said to him "I'm sorry to see you here, but if you had fought like a man, you need not have hanged like a dog." Bonny and Read were spared the noose because they were both pregnant: Read died in prison shortly thereafter, but history is unclear on the eventual fate of Bonny.

Rackham's body was put in a gibbet and hung on a small island in the harbor still known as Rackham's Cay. Rackham wasn't a great pirate. His brief tenures as captain were marked more by daring and bravery than pirating skill. His best prize, the Kingston, was only in his power for a few days, and he never had the impact on Caribbean and transatlantic commerce that others like Blackbeard , Edward Low , "Black Bart" Roberts or even his one-time mentor Vane did. Rackham is primarily remembered today for his association with Read and Bonny, two fascinating historical figures. It is safe to say that if it were not for them, Rackham would be but a footnote in pirate lore. Rackham did leave one other legacy, however: his flag. Pirates at the time made their own flags, usually black or red with white or red symbols on them. Rackham's flag was black with a white skull over two crossed swords: this banner has gained worldwide popularity as "the" pirate flag.

Sources: History: "Calico" Jack and Shanks | Oro Jackson This forum is dedicated for discussion of Theories & Speculations created using our Theories & Speculations platform. To publish a new theory or speculation, click here To see a list of all theories & speculations, read, rate and review click here History: "Calico" Jack and Shanks 0 I'm back again, with a second "post / threat / speculation". So, on the last one, I talked about a possible link between Christopher Condent and Oda's Blackbeard. I have to admit, I didn't know much about Christopher Condent at first, and I am still grabbing what I can about this pirate. However, now I am talking about "Calico" John "Jack" Rackham. This pirate is probably my favorite one, and one of those historical figure I know a lot about, from readings. So I'll be making a lot of speculation (none of it might be true), but I see, in Red Hair Shanks, a lot of Calico Jack. First thing first, the Name! The Name, and the color red. The Nickname "Calico" comes from the pieces of clothing Jack Rackham was wearing.

It was made out of roughly worked coton, called Calico Coth. However, many pirates wore these pieces of clothes, so why would this one get the nickname? Well, it was because of the colors. Jack Rackham wore colorful clothes, which marked the imagination. Many books, states he wore red calico coats and shirts. In even one the sources I found, the pirate legend saying the "capitain" wore red cloth to hide his wound to keep the men's spirit came from him (though I doubt that). Still; Calico Jack inspired Tintin Rackham the Red, for his red clothing and his extravagant ways. So Calico Jack, wore red, which would implement the first thought on "RED HAIR" Shanks. The Character Like stated above, Rackham was an Extravagant pirate, with ways different of other, and a feeling for justice. Still, like many pirates, he was greedy (which is probably what led him to his execution...). Neverthless, he was different. He was renown for his confidence, his speaking manners (which was more refined than many pirates), and his sens of justice.

At first, he worked for a very famous pirate (Known has Charles Vane), which acted has a mentor. But eventually, Rackham became Capitain of his own crew. Legend says, he never killed anyone without any motives. He made duels, with capitains, and was always caring for his crew. When attacking a ship, he would ask: "You might join me if you'd like". He would not respond to provocation, and, was a charming man. Moreover, he was not active in piracy for a long time, but he still became one of the most NOTORIOUS and famous pirate in the whole history of piracy. Back in the days, he was a very influent pirate. Sounds a bit like Shanks to me. The Flag Rackham's Flag was famous for the crossed swords under the skull, instead of the two classic crossbones (Used in many pirate movies... and many books). I won't go back on the symbolism of the skull (See Chris Condent thread...), which meant death and fear. I will stop on the crossed swords. Two swords, crossing each other may mean 3 things. I do not know which one it is, but... here are the 2 probabilities I consider. 1.

The duel of Honor. Two swords crossing each other means HONORABLE ways. Honor was often, back in Renaissance, used to deal with justice manners (and unfortunatly vengeance sometimes). Honor was also attributed to the passion of family. 2. War or immnent battle. Two swords crossing might have meant war. War to injustice? The meaning of a battle. Under the skull would fit though... Two swords crossin and point to the sky = ready to kill /fight/ battle 3. With the skull, it might mean the beheading, or the grave of a proud warrior... but this one doesn't fit at all ... So if you look at all the flags seen so far in One Piece, none of them is seen with crossed swords, except one... Yup... Shank's flag... Only flag with crossing swords. Still, It might not be true at all, but I see Rackham in Shanks 200 Very good theory I agree, that the flag was definitely an inspiration, as well as Jack's personality, and his sense of justice. Personally I think, that Shanks was based not only on this historical person, but also a discoverer Eric the Red, who was a viking.

It is said even in the databook, that Shanks and his crew "are able to freely (indulge) in exploration to the very end", which means, that they travel as a discoverers. And this thing with vikings - I would love to see Shanks being somehow related to vikings. Hell, even his ship - the Red Force has this viking-type of ornament with snake'dragon head(I don't know how to name it professionally ). And one more thing - when he is shown on some islands, they are always the winter ones (the exeption was the one in chapter 96) Thisalso can be a clue (Eric reached Greenland). The viking-arc with Shanks as major character would be simply awesome Kara22 said: ↑ Very good theory I agree, that the flag was definitely an inspiration, as well as Jack's personality, and his sense of justice. Personally I think, that Shanks was based not only on this historical person, but also a discoverer Eric the Red, who was a viking.

It is said even in the databook, that Shanks and his crew "are able to freely (indulge) in exploration to the very end", which means, that they travel as a discoverers. And this thing with vikings - I would love to see Shanks being somehow related to vikings. Hell, even his ship - the Red Force has this viking-type of ornament with snake'dragon head(I don't know how to name it professionally ). And one more thing - when he is shown on some islands, they are always the winter ones (the exeption was the one in chapter 96) Thisalso can be a clue (Eric reached Greenland). The viking-arc with Shanks as major character would be simply awesome Click to expand...

Well, I know of the Red X) but I always assimilated him to "Red-Leg Zeff" With the "Red Pants" Crew, from Scotish folklore (as I remember...), As they were know to where "red Socks", becaue I tought of him as a pionneer explorer (like Zeff) and his vicking look X) haha (like Zeff again...) But Now that you mention it, I feel like he might also be part of Shanks inspiration ! * Tell me I'm not the only one thinking Zeff look like a Viking? Haha well thanks for liking it And as you mentioned Zeff - to be honest, you also might be right here Damn Oda, always makes his fans confused We will see for sure, who was inspiration to create Shanks, when we get to his arc for sure though. I do believe, that Shanks will have a very interesting background, just like Kaido and Big Mom. I wouldn't mind if it turns out to be either a viking arc, something with russian inspiration, caribbean, or western (even don't know why, Shanks just strangely fits in , and we haven't seen it til now, so who knows).

The Ocracoke Orgy, Fall, 1718 The Ocracoke Orgy by Philip Howard Not long ago I was asked to write a short article about the “Ocracoke Orgy!” Those two words conjure up widely divergent images: a quaint and wholesome Outer Banks village…and wild sexual and dipsomaniacal license. I couldn’t imagine a title or topic that would capture more reader attention. However, lest you worry that our beloved village has become the center of uncontrolled sexual excess, and at the risk of losing readers attracted to National Enquirer sensationalism, I must reveal that the alleged orgy took place almost 300 years ago, in the fall of 1718. Captain Charles Johnson published the first account of the orgy in his 1724 book, A General History of the Robberies and Murders of the most notorious Pyrates.

Johnson’s book has been described as “a vivid and bloodthirsty account of a dozen English and Welsh pirates,” including Ocracoke’s best-known brigand, Edward Teach, popularly called Blackbeard, that recounted “graphic accounts of murder, torture and rape in exotic locations.” Although the identity of Captain Johnson remains a mystery, most scholars agree he must have been a seaman of considerable knowledge and experience, perhaps even a privateer who frequently crossed paths with his subjects. So what exactly transpired in the fall of 1718 on Ocracoke Island? Less than a week after Blackbeard’s blockade of Charleston Harbor on June 4, 1718, the pirate captain wrecked the Queen Anne’s Revenge at Old Topsail Inlet. In a brilliant maneuver, Teach marooned the majority of his rag-tag crew, and took command of his smaller sloop, the Adventure. Accompanied by his closest associates, Teach absconded with their recent plunder. Blackbeard then surrendered to North Carolina Governor, Charles Eden, and received the king’s pardon. In spite of the pardon, Teach was not done with piracy.

In late August, in the Atlantic Ocean east of Bermuda, Blackbeard captured a French merchant ship laden with sugar, cocoa, cotton, and indigo dye. Rather than return to the Caribbean with his prize, Teach sailed north, bound for North Carolina where he knew he would receive a warm welcome from Governor Eden and his Secretary, Tobias Knight. In early September the Adventure, passed through Ocracoke Inlet. The pirate crew remained at Ocracoke for several weeks, careening and repairing their ship. Meanwhile, Captain Teach paid a midnight visit to his friend, Tobias Knight, in Bath. A plan was hatched. On September 24 a Vice-Admiralty Court heard the case of the French “sugar ship” which Blackbeard had unloaded and burned to the waterline. Blackbeard claimed he had encountered the vessel abandoned on the high seas, and had burned her when it was discovered that she was leaking. Teach was cleared of any crimes, and allowed to keep the cargo. Of course, he was ordered to pay tariffs to the colonial government. In addition, Knight received twenty casks of sugar as a gift. It was time to celebrate, and Ocracoke Island was the place to party.

Mark R. Jones, in his 2005 book, Wicked Charleston: The Dark Side of the Holy City says this about what happened next: “To celebrate his grand fortune, Blackbeard headed to Ocracoke Island. The Queen Anne’s Revenge [actually, Blackbeard was in command of the sloop Adventure at this time] was laden with food, rum and women picked up from the waterfront. Other notorious pirates, like Calico Jack Rackham and Charles Vane, arrived at Ocracoke with more women and rum. It soon became a huge, continual party that has become known as the ‘Ocracoke Orgy.’ Hundreds of pirates spent several weeks on the island drinking, eating and whoring with more than fifty wenches.” The crews of Black Beard’s and Vane’s vessels carousing on the coast of Carolina From The Pirates Own Book, 1837 As Robert E.

Lee writes about the “pirate festival” in his 1974 book, Blackbeard the Pirate, A Reappraisal of His Life and Times, Teach was back at Ocracoke after his appearance at the Vice-Admiralty Court, and the notorious pirate captain, Charles Vane, was soon to join him. In July Captain Vane had spurned the king’s pardon which had been offered by the Governor of the Bahamas. After attacking the Governor’s fleet, eluding capture, and plundering a number of vessels on the high seas, Vane sailed north to Ocracoke. Lee writes that “Vane’s visit with Blackbeard…actually constituted the largest pirate festival ever held on the mainland of North America.

Among the celebrities who attended the festivities near what is now the village of Ocracoke were Edward Teach, Israel Hands, Charles Vane, Robert Deal, and John Rackham, all of whom at some time during their lives had commanded a pirate ship.” Lee calls Ocracoke a “pirate playground” where “hogs and cows were barbecued, and many of the fishermen and traders passing the inlet, upon seeing such a throng of people, stopped to trade with them and furnish them with fresh provisions.” Those provisions, Lee assures us, included “an ample supply of rum, and the punch bowls were never empty.” Other writers describe the gathering as "a weeklong bout of raucous festivities replete with wine, women, and song that some have called the 'Ocracoke Orgy'" (Bruce Roberts and Sandra Clunies, in their 2002 book, Pirates of the Southern Coast¸ the earliest reference to the term “Ocracoke Orgy” that I have been able to document.) "an infamous week of drunken debauchery and womanizing," (Dr. Michael D.

Hogan, in his article “Pirates of the Carolinas (Part V): Charles Vane, the Unluckiest Pirate of Them All” published in Southport Magazine), and "the biggest gathering of pirates on the entire eastern seaboard...[where] wild and wicked sea villains chased women around the beach, while musicians played all night." (Terrance Zepke, in his 2005 book, Pirates of the Carolinas) Interestingly, the earliest mention of this pirate gathering, from the pen of Captain Charles Johnson (remember him from his 1724 book, A General History of the Robberies and Murders of the most notorious Pyrates?) says only that, “Captain Vane went into an inlet to the northward, where he met with Captain Thatch, or Teach, otherwise called Blackbeard,…and civilities passed for some days, when about the beginning of October, Vane took leave and sailed further to the northward.” That’s it! Captain Vane and Captain Teach passed “civilities for some days.” So what are we to make of the “Ocracoke Orgy” story?

No doubt a meeting of Blackbeard and Vane took place on Ocracoke Island, where Blackbeard was encamped in the fall of 1718. Rum surely was involved; perhaps even barbecued hogs and cows. If a few musicians were among the pirate crews…maybe a mouth harp, or a harmonica, even a concertina or a flute…there would have been rowdy sea shanties. Did merchant vessels stop for a bit of revelry? Who knows? More likely they kept their distance from a group of seasoned pirates. What about “women picked up from the waterfront,” and scenes of “whoring with more than fifty wenches?” Was it a “week of drunken debauchery and womanizing,” “a huge, continual party” with a “throng of people” coming and going, a time when “wild and wicked sea villains chased women around the beach, while musicians played all night?” Kevin Duffus, author of The Last Days of Black Beard the Pirate, doesn’t think so. And I agree. Duffus refers to the pirate gathering as a “banyon,” a traditional British Royal Navy term for a period of rest and relaxation.

He envisions makeshift tents fashioned from sailcloth that were erected on the beach, and concurs that 18th century sailors would have eagerly hunted and roasted wild game, and gathered fresh oysters and other shellfish rather than eat the ship’s stores of worm-infested beef and moldy hard tack. He points out that the woodcut pictured above debuted in an 1837 volume titled The Pirate’s Own Book, and seems to be the source of the exaggerated legends of “a weeklong bout of raucous festivities.” As Duffus points out, “The artist could hardly have imagined a more inaccurate scene.” While Charles Vane may have brought one or two women to the gathering, there surely were not as many as depicted in the woodcut. After all, there was no village on the island at that time. Nor would the participants have been so nattily dressed, nor so prim and proper (consider the dignified fiddler). To emphasize his point, Duffus remarks on the sturdy wooden dining table (where did that come from?), and notes that one woman is even carrying a baby!

Surely there was a gathering of buccaneers on Ocracoke Island (probably on the soundside beach near present-day Springer’s Point) in late September or early October of 1718. But the “passing of civilities for some days” by the pirate crews of Charles Vane and Edward Teach hardly counts as an “Ocracoke Orgy.” It does make for a colorful story, however. The Pirate Hunters The Pirate Hunters By Christopher Minster Pirate Hunters of the Golden Age: During the "Golden Age of Piracy," thousands of pirates plagued the seas from the Caribbean to India. These desperate men sailed under ruthless captains like Edward "Blackbeard" Teach, "Calico Jack" Rackham and "Black Bart" Roberts, attacking and pillaging any merchantman unfortunate enough to cross their path. They did not enjoy complete freedom, however: the authorities were determined to stamp out piracy in any way they could. One of the methods was the employment of "pirate hunters," men and ships specifically chartered to hunt pirates down and bring them to justice. The Pirates: Pirates were seamen who had tired of the harsh conditions on board naval and merchant vessels.

The conditions on those ships were truly inhuman, and piracy, which was more egalitarian, appealed to them greatly. On board a pirate ship, they could share more equally in the profits and they had the freedom to elect their own officers . continue reading below our video 10 Facts About the Titanic That You Don't Know Soon there were dozens of pirate vessels operating all over the globe and particularly in the Atlantic. By the early 1700's, piracy was a major problem, particularly for England, which controlled much of the Atlantic trade. Pirate vessels were swift and there were many places to hide, so the pirates operated with impunity. Towns like Port Royal and Nassau were essentially controlled by pirates, giving them the safe harbors and access to unscrupulous merchants they needed to sell off their ill-gotten loot. Bringing the Sea-Dogs to Heel: The government of England was the first to seriously try to control the pirates. The pirates were operating out of bases in British Jamaica and the Bahamas and they victimized British ships as often as those of any other nation. The English tried different strategies to get rid of the pirates: the two that worked the best were pardons and pirate hunters.

The pardons worked best for those men who feared the hangman’s noose or wanted to get out of the life, but the true die-hard pirates would only be brought in by force. Pardons: In 1718 the English decided to lay down the law in Nassau. They sent a tough former privateer named Woodes Rogers to be Governor of Nassau and gave him clear orders to get rid of the pirates. The pirates, who essentially controlled Nassau, gave him a warm welcome: notorious pirate Charles Vane fired on the royal navy ships as they entered the harbor. Rogers was not intimidated and was determined to do his job. He had royal pardons for those who were willing to give up the life of piracy. Anyone who wished could sign a contract swearing to never again return to piracy and they would receive a full pardon. As the penalty for piracy was hanging, many pirates, including famous ones like Benjamin Hornigold, accepted the pardon. Some, like Vane, accepted the pardon but soon returned to piracy. The pardons took many pirates off the seas, but the biggest, baddest pirates would never willingly give up the life. That's where the pirate hunters came in.

Pirate Hunters and Privateers: For as long as there have been pirates, there have been men hired to hunt them down. Sometimes, the men hired to catch the pirates were pirates themselves. This occasionally led to problems. In 1696, Captain William Kidd , a respected ship's captain, was given a privateering commission to attack any French and/or pirate vessels he found. Under the terms of the contract, he could pretty much keep the spoils and enjoyed the protection of England. Many of his sailors were former pirates and not long into the voyage, when pickings were scarce, they told Kidd that he had better come up with some plunder…or else. In 1698 he attacked and sacked the Queddah Merchant, a Moorish ship with an English captain. Allegedly the ship had French papers, which was good enough for Kidd and his men. However, his arguments did not fly in a British court and Kidd was eventually hanged for piracy. The Death of Blackbeard: Edward "Blackbeard" Teach terrorized the Atlantic between the years of 1716-1718. In 1718 he supposedly retired, accepted a pardon and settled down in North Carolina.

In reality, he was still a pirate and was in cahoots with the local governor, who offered him protection in exchange for part of his loot. The Governor of nearby Virginia chartered two warships, the Ranger and the Jane, to capture or kill the legendary pirate. On November 22, 1718, they cornered Blackbeard in Okracoke Inlet. A fierce battle ensued , and Blackbeard was killed after taking five gunshot wounds and twenty cuts by sword or knife. His head was cut off and displayed: according to legend, his headless body swam around the ship three times before sinking. The End of Black Bart: Bartholomew "Black Bart" Roberts was the greatest of the Golden Age pirates, taking hundreds of ships over a three-year career. He preferred a small fleet of two to four ships that could surround and intimidate his victims. In1722, a large warship, the Swallow, was sent to get rid of Roberts. When Roberts first sighted the Swallow, he sent one of his ships, the Ranger, to take it: the Ranger, was overpowered, out of sight of Roberts.

The Swallow later returned for Roberts, aboard his flagship the Royal Fortune. The ships began firing on one another, and Roberts was killed almost immediately. Without their captain, the other pirates lost heart quickly and surrendered. Eventually, 52 of Roberts' men would be found guilty and hanged. The Last Journey of Calico Jack: In November of 1720, the Governor of Jamaica got word that notorious pirate John "Calico Jack" Rackham was working the waters nearby. The governor outfitted a sloop for pirate hunting, named Jonathan Barnet captain and sent them off in pursuit. Barnet caught up with Rackham off of Negril Point. Rackham tried to run, but Barnet was able to corner him. The ships fought briefly: only three of Rackham's pirates put up much of a fight. Among them were the two famous female pirates, Anne Bonny and Mary Read , who berated the men for their cowardice. Later, in jail, Bonny allegedly said to Rackham: "If you had fought like a man, you need not have hanged like a dog." Rackham and his pirates were hanged, but Read and Bonny were spared because they were both pregnant.

The Final Battle of Stede Bonnet: Stede "the Gentleman Pirate" Bonnet wasn't really much of a pirate. He was a born landlubber who came from a wealthy family on Barbados. Some say he took up piracy because of a nagging wife. Even though Blackbeard himself showed him the ropes, Bonnet still showed an alarming tendency to attack ships he could not defeat. He might not have had the career of a good pirate, but no one can say he didn't go out like one. On September 27, 1718, Bonnet was cornered by pirate hunters in the Cape Fear inlet. Bonnet put up a furious fight: the Battle of Cape Fear River was one of the most pitched battles in the history of piracy. It was all for nothing: Bonnet and his crew were captured and hanged. Hunting Pirates Today: In the eighteenth century, pirate hunters proved effective at hunting down the most notorious pirates and bringing them to justice. True pirates like Blackbeard and Black Bart Roberts never would have given up their lifestyle willingly. Times have changed, but pirate hunters still exist and still bring hard-core pirates to justice.

Piracy has gone high-tech: pirates in speedboats wielding rocket launchers and machine guns attack massive freighters and tankers, looting the contents or holding the ship ransom to sell back to its owners. Modern piracy is a billion-dollar industry. But pirate hunters have gone high-tech as well, tracking their prey with modern surveillance equipment and satellites. Even though pirates have traded their swords and muskets for rocket launchers, they are no match for the modern naval warships which patrol the pirate infested waters of the Horn of Africa, Malacca Strait and other lawless areas. Sources: Cordingly, David. Under the Black Flag New York: Random House Trade Paperbacks, 1996 Finding Pirates in the Caribbean - Arts And Culture - TravelChannel.com Finding Pirates in the Caribbean The Real Pirates of the Caribbean Roman Lipovskiy Caribbean Arts and Culture During the golden age of piracy in the 17th and 18th centuries, port towns on the islands of Jamaica, New Providence and Tortuga became ideal havens for such buccaneers and privateers as Blackbeard, Calico Jack and Henry Morgan. They were all keen to intercept loot being shipped from the Americas back to Europe.

Many Caribbean islands play up their possible links to pirate history. You can find references to piratical heritage on almost every island from Aruba to Trinidad, and trinket vendors at many cruise-ship ports are happy to sell you a Jolly Roger magnet, mug or T-shirt. But was Edward Teach, aka Blackbeard, ever really there? It’s hard to verify. Caribbean pirates were not easy to pin down and spent most of their time at sea. So how does a landlubbing-pirate-treasure-seeking tourist sort out what’s real and what’s not? We’ve rounded up a few of the best places in the Caribbean to find authentic pirate experiences. Nassau, Bahamas Nassau on the island of New Providence was an ideal base of operations for the nefarious denizens that flocked there. The harbor waters were too shallow for large man-of-war ships, but were deep enough for the fast, shallow-draft vessels preferred by pirates. The many islands, coves and hidey-holes nearby were also ideal for hiding misbegotten loot.

Such pirate rock stars as Charles Vane, Calico Jack Rackham and Teach, as well as women pirates Anne Bonny and Mary Read, were known to drop in on occasion. Nassau proudly displays its (mostly) real pirate history, and you’ll find plenty of historic walking tours, boat cruises and bars to carouse in. Highlights include Pirates of Nassau , a playful interactive museum that re-creates the bawdy heyday of piratical lore, and Blackbeard’s Tower, which may or may not have been built as a lookout by Teach himself. Port Royal, Jamaica The Jamaican town of Port Royal was once the pirate capital of the Caribbean and it was the hub of Britain’s naval operations in the West Indies for more than 200 years. Fabled pirates such as Henry Morgan, Teach and Christopher Myngs are said to have spent time there. Several earthquakes since the 17th century knocked major portions of the city into the sea. There are plans to redevelop what is mostly a ramshackle fishing settlement for tourism, but little has materialized. Nonetheless, real pirate history buffs consider Port Royal a must-see.

Visitors should make a beeline for the Maritime Museum and Fort Charles (circa 1655), the only of the town’s original 6 forts still standing. Tortuga Island, Hispaniola Tortuga, a tiny island off the northwest coast of Haiti, became one of the most notorious pirate settlements in the Caribbean when French and Spanish buccaneers set up shop in the mid-17th century. Serious pirate historians put the island high on their travel to-do lists. Intrepid visitors should find the northern coastal town of Port de Paix. From its primitive airport, take a ferry for 6 miles to the 25-mile long, turtle-shaped atoll. A handful of budget lodging options are available across the rocky island. Visitors will find pristine beaches, caves to explore and the remains of a couple of forts. Cruise on a Tall Ship You can’t understand a pirate until you’ve sailed a mile on his boat. So why not try a tall ship cruise on a large, traditionally rigged sailing vessel? The brigantine, schooner and frigate were pirate favorites. Many Caribbean islands offer day and sunset cruises on tall ships, some even with pirate themes.

Such companies as Windjammer and Star Clipper offer multi-day tall ship cruises through the Caribbean with stops at famous pirate haunts like Nassau and Dominica, where much of the Pirates of the Caribbean films were shot. Cayman Islands, Pirates Week Festival Here’s where you can don an eye patch, down some rum and yell “Ahoy, me hearties!” at passersby. The Cayman Islands’ Pirates Week Festival has been a hit every fall for 33 years. Eleven days in November are filled with music, street dances, treasure hunts, food, parades, sports events, Heritage Days, costume competitions, even a “surprise” mock pirate invasion at George Town harbor. Travel writer Trisha Creekmore has traveled to more than a dozen Caribbean islands. While she has yet to discover real pirate treasure, she has slept in several cities where Blackbeard has also supposedly slept. The Hot List Famous Pirates | The Islands of The Bahamas Tourism / Independence BLACKBEARD One of the most notorious pirates of all time was Edward Teach, aka Blackbeard. An unusually large man, he struck terror into the hearts of his own crew, never mind those he attacked.

Before battle, Teach would weave hemp into his long, black beard and light it. The sight of his smoking form standing on deck - brandishing a multitude of swords, knives and pistols - was enough to make many merchantmen surrender before any shots were fired. If they gave up without a fight, Blackbeard would confiscate their valuables and weapons and let them sail away without bloodshed. However, if the crew showed any resistance, he would either kill or maroon them, abandoning them on a deserted island. When Blackbeard lived in Nassau, his fellow pirates appointed him magistrate of their 'Privateers' Republic'. He enforced his own style of law and justice until Royal Governor Woodes Rogers arrived in 1718. Blackbeard was out to sea when Rogers drove the pirates out of Nassau, so he moved to another island and continued his raids. In 1718, a British ship trapped Blackbeard's vessel on a sandbar off the coast of Virginia. A bloody battle ensued, in which Blackbeard received five pistol balls and twenty cutlass wounds before he expired. The Royal Navy captain then decapitated Blackbeard and displayed his head on the ship's rigging.

Although his pirating career only lasted about five years, it is believed that Blackbeard captured 40 ships, and his legend lives on today. CALICO JACK The pirating activities of John Rackham, or Calico Jack as he was known in reference to the striped trousers and coat he wore, began when as quartermaster, he seized control of his captain's ship. Charles Vane, unfortunate pirate captain of the ship Treasure, had failed to attack a French man-of-war, which so infuriated Calico Jack, he set up a protest, and supported by his fellow crew members, placed Vane and his allies on a small sloop and sent them on their way. Sometime later, Calico Jack met Anne Bonny on the island of New Providence. He persuaded her to leave her husband and she joined him on his ship dressed as a man. A second female pirate, Mary Read, was already part of Calico Jack's crew, and like Anne, dressed as a man. Anne and Mary were both on board when a pirate-hunter under the orders of Royal Governor Woodes Rogers', attacked their ship in 1720.

During the fight, Calico Jack cowered in the hold along with the crew, leaving Anne and Mary to fend off the attackers on deck. They lost the battle and Calico Jack was sentenced and hanged. SIR HENRY MORGAN Henry Morgan, a Welsh privateer, was famous for his exploits against the Spanish. He led his crew on many successful and profitable raids, including a spectacular attack on Panama City in 1670 that earned him a knighthood. A few months later, Morgan settled in Port Royal, Jamaica, as its deputy governor and became a rich sugar plantation owner. On the Bahamian island of Andros, the highest point on the island is called Morgan's Bluff in tribute to the famous buccaneer. Although it is highly unlikely, some say Henry Morgan once hung a lantern there to lure a ship onto the reefs and plunder it after it wrecked. ANNE BONNY AND MARY READ Dressed as men, Anne Bonny and Mary Read sailed under pirate captain Calico Jack Rackham. Well known for their short fuses and hot tempers, they were both said to be as fierce as the men who fought alongside them.

Anne's pirating days began when she met Calico Jack on the island of New Providence and abandoned her husband, James Bonny, for him. Disguising herself in men's clothes, she joined Jack on his ship and soon earned a reputation for being as ruthless and fearless as the other pirates on board. Remarkably, there was another female pirate on the same ship. Disguised as a man, Mary Read, a woman known to have craved adventure from childhood, had joined Calico Jack's crew sometime earlier. By the time she met Anne Bonny she had been in the regiment of a man-of-war, been a sailor on a shipping vessel and been part of the crew on a privateer. In 1720, Captain Burnet, a pirate-hunter commissioned by Royal Governor Woodes Rogers, attacked their ship. The crew, who were drunk at the time, huddled in the hold while the two women bravely fought off the attackers. Their efforts were were unsuccessful however, and every member of the crew was tried for piracy and sentenced to death. Claiming to be pregnant, Anne and Mary avoided being immediately hanged, although Mary eventually died in her prison cell from a fever.

Anne gave birth to her baby and, for some reason, was granted a reprieve after which she disappeared and was never heard of again. To see more on Pirates and where you can find them when you're in The Bahamas visit The Pirates of Nassau Museum Access restriction You are attempting to view an access restricted part of this site. Please login or register to get access to this content. h2g2 - 'Calico' Jack Rackham - Pirate - Edited Entry Sir Henry Morgan | William Kidd | Edward Teach | 'Calico' Jack Rackham | Bartholomew Roberts | Major Stede Bonnet | Charles Vane As with so many pirates , the facts concerning 'Calico' 1 Jack Rackham's early years are largely unknown. We do not really know when or where he was born, and although he was a fairly active pirate on his own, his enduring fame is due more to his association with the two most famous female pirates of all time, Anne Bonny and Mary Reed , than to any exploits of his own. Blackbeard Rackham's first documented history dates from 1718 when he was serving as a quarter master with the pirate Charles Vane .

Calico Jack was by all accounts a popular and loyal crew member and is likely to have been onboard Vane's ship when they captured a brigantine full of slaves. This ship became Vane's flagship and was the scene of Vane's encounter with the infamous pirate Blackbeard in the September of 1718 near to Ocracoke Island. The encounter between the two ships has become the stuff of legend: a week-long party ensued, news of which eventually reached the ears of Alexander Spotswood, the Governor of Virginia. Spotswood assembled a small force of Royal Naval ships and crew which he dispatched to capture the pirates. This force arrived at Ocracoke on 21 November, 1718, but they were too late. Vane and his crew were spotted two days later 1800km to the south in Windward Passage between the islands of Cuba and Hispaniola 2 . Captain Jack Rackham The sighting of a French ship in the Windward Passage by Vane's crew ultimately proved to be the cause of Rackham's elevation to captain. Vane approached the ship, expecting it to be a normal merchant ship, and prepared the attack.

The ship turned a broadside on Vane's small brigantine, thus revealing itself to be a full French Man O'War . Vane decided that living to fight again would be a better idea than engaging, and he ordered a retreat. As Vane was the captain in charge during a combat action, the well-disciplined crew obeyed his orders until they were far away and safe. Then the arguments broke out. Most of the crew believed they could have captured the Man O'War, and as one of the world's early democracies they voted Vane out. Rackham was elected the new captain of the William, and Vane and his few loyal crew members were given a small sloop and cast off. Anne Bonny In July of 1718 the new Governor of the Bahamas, Woodes Rogers, had issued a pardon to any pirate who wanted to receive one. He used this tactic to reduce piracy, as he was able to hire many newly-pardoned pirates as privateers set up to hunt their ex-colleagues. In May 1719 Rackham sailed to Nassau town on New Providence, an island in the Bahamas, to accept this pardon and to settle down.

While there he met a woman named Anne Bonny who eventually would create Calico Jack's fame. Anne and Jack were attracted to each other and Anne soon fell pregnant, even though she was married to another, not very successful pirate named James Bonny. Rackham took Anne off to Cuba to be cared for by friends while she had her baby; however, the baby was born prematurely and died shortly afterwards. This devastated Bonny, so Rackham returned her to be with her friends. Meanwhile James Bonny was furious about this betrayal by Anne and went to see Governor Rogers to demand that she be punished. Rogers owed Anne a favour, as she had warned him of an earlier attempt on his life, so instead of punishing her then and there he asked James Bonny to accept Rackham's offer to buy Anne from him. This would have solved everything, except Anne was furious; she refused to be bought and sold like an animal. This caused a problem. She couldn't continue to see Rackham, or else she'd be punished (probably publicly flogged) and she refused to be purchased; so instead she created a third option and ran away to sea with Rackham, disguised as a man!

Downfall Calico Jack and Anne Bonny spent the next few months hunting fishing vessels and small merchant ships in the Caribbean. During this time Rackham captured a ship aboard which was another woman, namely Mary Read. She also joined Rackham's crew, and the three set about plundering and pillaging in true pirate fashion. On 20 August, 1720 Rackham stole a small vessel from Nassau harbour and sailed to Negril Bay in Jamaica. He was pursued by Captain Jonathon Barret, a privateer who was hunting pirates across the Caribbean. There is some debate about what happened next. Either there was a short battle which Barret quickly won, or he managed to surprise Rackham. What isn't in doubt is that when Barret's crew stepped onto Rackham's vessel, Rackham and his crew surrendered with little resistance. Mary Read and Anne Bonny, though, fought until they were physically restrained. Rackham was sent to St Jago de la Vega in Jamaica, tried and convicted of piracy on 16 November, 1720.

Calico Jack and 11 of his crew mates were hung until dead over the course of two days, 19 and 20 November 3 . Anne Bonny and Mary Read escaped the death penalty by declaring that they were pregnant. Calico Jack Rackham was never a hugely successful pirate. Most of his robberies were on a fairly small scale, and he'd have probably drifted into obscurity after his death if it weren't for his association with the two women pirates. Yet he must have been disappointed with the last words he had from the love of his life, Anne Bonny. She stated that 'she was sorry to see him there in gaol, but if he had fought like a man, he need not be hanged like a dog'. 1 So named after his habit of wearing fancy shirts made from calico. 2 The large island that now contains Haiti and the Dominican Republic. 3 Rackham's body was then hung in chains as a warning to other pirates on an island near Port Royal that was known as Deadman's Cay. The island is now called Rackham's Cay after its most famous 'inhabitant'.

Question: What were Calico Jack and Blackbeard?
Answer: Pirates