You might think that pirates only exist in films and books, but once upon a time, there were real life pirates who roamed the seas. Pirates have been around since 1350 BC, including the ‘Golden Age’ of sea robbers in the 1600-1700s.
Here we’ll sail back across the seas to discover the lives of pirates and buccaneers, including some of the most fearsome and prolific characters from over the years.
Who are the most famous pirates in history?
Jack Sparrow might spring to mind as one of the most famous pirates you can think of, but what about pirates that really did sail across the sea and cause chaos? During the late 17th century and start of the 18th century, the Golden Age of piracy was called as such because there was a lot of pirate activity going on. Unsurprisingly, some of the most famous pirates operated during this time. Let’s learn who and just what they did!
Blackbeard
Blackbeard, whose real name was Edward Teach, was born in Bristol in 1680. He’s one of the most infamous pirates in history, despite his career in piracy only lasting around 2 years in 1716 to 1718 – meaning he didn’t become a pirate until he was well into his 30s!
He began as a privateer, which meant he was commissioned by a country to attack and capture enemy ships. However, he continued this after he stopped being a privateer. Blackbeard rose through the ranks and was made a captain of his own ship and began pillaging around the Caribbean.
Some of his most successful raids including blockading the port of Charleston in South Carolina, with any ships trying to leave or enter the harbour captured and crews taken hostage. He was paid his ransom and off he sailed!
Eventually, Blackbeard was captured by the Royal Navy who wanted to put a stop to him once and for all. There was a £100 reward for those who found him, and his head was visible on a stake in Chesapeake Bay in Virginia for years afterwards.
Bartholomew Roberts
Bartholomew Roberts was possibly one of the most successful pirates, with a rumour that he plundered around 400 ships in his time. His real name was John Roberts, and he was born in South Wales in 1682. While serving on a ship, he was enslaved by a pirate near the coast of Guinea. He decided to join the pirate life, where he then sailed across the American colonies and the Caribbean.
Black Bart, as he was also known, raided all different ships including English and French ships, captured political figures and even made it to Africa to continue his campaign. By 1722, the British government sent someone to find and capture Bartholomew Roberts and he was eventually killed by grapeshot, which was a type of ammunition consisting of small metal balls bound together in a bag.
The trial of his pirates was the biggest pirate trial in history, and it all but ended the Golden Age of piracy.
Madame Cheng
There are many mentions of successful female pirates through history, including Anne Bonny and Mary Read who operated during the Golden Age, but Madame Cheng was also a remarkable pirate of the times.
She was known by a number of different names, including Ching Shih and her birth name, Shi Yang. She was born in 1775 in Guangdong and in 1801 she married a notorious local pirate called Zheng Yi. She took the name Zheng Yi Sao (the wife of Zheng Yi) and began her own life at sea. When her husband died in 1807, she quickly took over his piracy operation.
During her time as captain, her fleet was entirely undefeated, even when the Chinese Navy tried to stop her. In 1810 there was eventually a negotiation to allow her to surrender, and she ran a quiet life running a gambling den until she passed away aged 69, in 1844.
Sir Francis Drake
Sir Francis Drake was a complicated character, as he was an expert navigator and hero, but also pirate and slave trader. He was the first Englishman to circumnavigate the globe, but it was part of a secret pirate mission sanctioned by Queen Elizabeth against the Spanish colonies on the Pacific coast of America.
He was born around 1540 in Devon, and in 1567 he made of the first English slaving voyages. He plundered many Spanish ports and cities in his time, and by 1587 war with Spain was imminent. Francis Drake was a vice admiral in the fleet that defeated the Armada.
So, while he was more of a sanctioned pirate, he still gained a notorious reputation. He was nicknamed ‘El Draque’ (the dragon) by the Spanish. They believed he practiced witchcraft and was in cahoots with the devil. He eventually died in 1596 of dysentery off the coast of Panama.
Edward Low
Edward Low was born in Westminster around 1690, and entered a life of crime very early. He arrived in America when he was around 20 years old, eventually working as a dock worker and shipmate. He and his crew took control of the ship and Low became a pirate captain. After capturing several ships off the east coast of America, he sailed to the Caribbean.
Edward Low gained a notorious reputation for being merciless, and captured at least 100 ships during his pirate career. He became known as a torturer and a brute. Amazingly, he was never captured and likely ended his days in Brazil.
Charles Vane
We don’t know a whole lot about Charles Vane’s early life, but he was thought to have been born around 1690 in England. He first served as a privateer under Henry Jennings in 1716. Henry Jennings was closely linked to Benjamin Hornigold, who played a major role in Blackbeard’s pirate career.
Charles was an active pirate between 1716-1720, concentrating his efforts around the east coast of North America and the Caribbean. He eventually set out on his own in 1718 when he acquired his own command. He was successful financially, but his crew didn’t particularly like him very much. He was voted off his ship and spent some time washed up on an island after a hurricane. He was eventually found and tried as a pirate, and was hung in 1720.
Discover more about pirates and their history at Smuggler’s Adventure
The world of piracy was a fascinating, if not dangerous, one. There are many fearsome and powerful characters like this throughout the history books, with many pirates operating throughout the world. Right here at Smuggler’s Adventure, you’ll find ancient caves that played a role in pirate operations.
Why not book your tickets and discover more about the life of a smuggler in the 17th and 18th centuries?