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Pirate Hall of Fame We provide historical information on infamous brigands, buccaneers, sea rovers, privateers, and pirates. This is a digital museum on several platforms.

Pirate-Hunter Appointed...AgainOn this day in 1728, English privateer turned pirate-hunter Woodes Rogers was appointed t...
10/22/2024

Pirate-Hunter Appointed...Again

On this day in 1728, English privateer turned pirate-hunter Woodes Rogers was appointed to a second term as Governor of the Bahamas by King George II.

Rogers had served as the region's first Colonial Governor from 1718-1721 but was haunted by financial troubles that eventually landed him in debtor's prison.

Following the publication of Captain Charles Johnson's wildly popular “General History of the Robberies and Murders of the Most Notorious Pyrates” for which he provided much of the information, Rogers again became a national hero and was awarded a retro-active pension by the King.

His stated mission as the Bahamas' first governor, "Expulsis Piratis, Restituta Commercia" (Expel Pirates, Restore Commerce) remained the motto of the island nation until it gained its independence in 1973.

A statue of Rogers still stands in front of the Colonial Hilton in Nassau.

Bane of the Barbary Pirates in BornThe USS Constitution, a 44-gun U.S. Navy frigate, was launched on this day in 1797.Co...
10/21/2024

Bane of the Barbary Pirates in Born

The USS Constitution, a 44-gun U.S. Navy frigate, was launched on this day in 1797.

Construction of the ship was overseen by Silas Talbot, a patriot privateer-turned-captain in the Continental Navy. Badly burned in a fireship attack on the British, Talbot's courage and cunning were unquestionable. He rose quickly in the ranks and was appointed as one of the first captains of the newly-created United States Navy by George Washington. He served as commander of the USS Constitution from 1799 to 1801.

Built to fight Barbary pirates in the Mediterranean, a peace treaty with Tripoli was signed aboard the ship in 1805. Nicknamed "Old Ironsides" following her action against British forces in the War of 1812, the Constitution - k nown as "America's Ship of State" - is the oldest commissioned naval vessel afloat.

http://www.ussconstitutionmuseum.org

TOO DRUNK TO…FIGHT : Rackham, Reade, and Bonny Captured English pirate "Calico" Jack Rackham was captured on this day in...
10/20/2024

TOO DRUNK TO…FIGHT : Rackham, Reade, and Bonny Captured

English pirate "Calico" Jack Rackham was captured on this day in 1720. Rackham, along with a dozen members of his crew (including infamous female pirates Anne Bonny and Mary Reade) were taken into custody by the British Navy following a brief skirmish at Dry Harbor Bay, Jamaica.

Rackham and his men had spent the night drinking aboard their sloop William with a group of fellow English pirates. They were caught unaware by Captain Jonathan Barnet in command of the British naval sloop-of-war Tyger around 10pm.

Barnet ordered the pirates' surrender and, rousing Rackham and his men from their drunken slumber, was met by a few shots from the William's swivel guns as it attempted to flee.

The Tyger returned a full broadside, seriously damaging the William. Barnet and his men boarded the pirate sloop a short time later and met little resistance as only the lady pirates remained on deck to fight.

The rest of Rackham's crew, still drunk from the evening's revelry, fled below deck. Reade shot one dead for his cowardice before the boarding and the rest, found hiding in their cabins, were easily captured.

Reade and Bonny surrendered and, along with Rackham and the remaining crewmen, were taken to Port Royal to stand trial.

We will tell the story of the trial and subsequent hanging on the corresponding date - but if you truly feel compelled to jump the gun and tell it yourself in the comment, have at it.

Captained by Kearney not KirkOn this day in 1822, the schooner USS Enterprise - under the command of Captain Lawrence Ke...
10/16/2024

Captained by Kearney not Kirk

On this day in 1822, the schooner USS Enterprise - under the command of Captain Lawrence Kearny - captured four pirate barges and three small launches along with 160 men in the Gulf of Mexico.

During Enterprise’s time serving in the anti-piracy campaign she captured a total of 13 ships.

Image of Enterprise firing six pounders across the bow of a pirate brig by author and artist Capt. William Bainbridge-Hoff

Not a Good Day for KnowlesThe Battle of Havana, considered the last major action of the War of Jenkins' Ear, was fought ...
10/12/2024

Not a Good Day for Knowles

The Battle of Havana, considered the last major action of the War of Jenkins' Ear, was fought on this day in 1748 between the British Caribbean Squadron and Spanish forces protecting their treasure fleet.

While the British succeeded in capturing one Spanish galleon and badly damaging another, the British commander - Captain Sir Charles Knowles - failed to launch an organized attack and the treasure fleet was able to escape.

Knowles was court-martialed for his mishandling of the engagement and later fought a duel over the event with one of his own captains.

The Fearsome FrenchmanOn this day in 1800, French privateer Robert Surcouf captured the 40-gun British East Indiaman Ken...
10/07/2024

The Fearsome Frenchman

On this day in 1800, French privateer Robert Surcouf captured the 40-gun British East Indiaman Kent with only his smaller but swifter 18-gun brig Confiance off Sands Head near Calcutta.

A career pirate who amassed a huge fortune through the illegal slave trade and commerce raiding - despite lacking the requisite Letter of Marque - Surcouf was nonetheless considered a national hero and awarded the prestigious Legion of Honor in 1802.

His capture of the Kent inspired the traditional French maritime song "Le Trente-et-un du mois d'août".

“To the Great Joy of the Whole Province”On this day in 1718, Colonel William Rhett, vice-admiral of the Colonial Navy, s...
10/03/2024

“To the Great Joy of the Whole Province”

On this day in 1718, Colonel William Rhett, vice-admiral of the Colonial Navy, sailed into Charleston harbor carrying more than three dozen pirate prisoners captured in the defeat of “gentleman pirate” Major Stede Bonnet at the Cape Fear River.

Rhett, a wealthy planter, served as a member of the South Carolina General Assembly as well as its colonial militia. He commanded an improvised flotilla defending against an attack on Charleston by Jacques Lefebvre and Estevan de Berroa during Queen Anne’s War in 1709, ultimately capturing the ship Brilliant and taking nearly 100 prisoners.

An active merchant captain, Rhett had a bone to pick with pirates. In 1699, on a business trip between Charleston and St. Thomas, his ship Providence was attacked and taken by Dutch pirate Hendrick van Hoven (also known as Captain Hyne).

In 1718, following attacks on the town by both Blackbeard and Charles Vane, Rhett provided two sloops - the Sea Nymph and the Henry - to defend against and root out sea rovers lurking in nearby coastal waters. Each was armed with 8 guns and crewed by 60 and 70 men respectively.

It was this pair of pirate-hunting vessels that Rhett led to victory (though only after grounding both and taking heavy casualties) over Bonnet’s Royal James (renamed from Revenge after briefly taking a pardon) and its crew.

Tending to their wounded and making repairs after the short but brutal battle, Rhett and his men remained at the site for two days before weighing anchor on September 30th. According to a contemporary account (The Tryals of Stede Bonnet & Other Pirates - 1719), they “arrived at Charles Town the 3d of October to the great joy of the whole province”.

There being no public prison at Charleston, the majority of the pirates were confined in the watch house under heavy guard of the local militia. Stede Bonnet (who had been operating under the name Captain Thomas since his pardon), along with the ship’s master and boatswain, were kept in the private home of the town’s Marshal, with only two men on watch at night.

With the help of local scoundrel Richard Tookerman, Bonnet and the master David Herriot escaped custody on October 24th.

We shall continue the tale on the aforementioned date.

THE CRIMSON PIRATEOn this day in 1952, the Crimson Pirate was released - starring Burt Lancaster as buccaneer Captain Va...
09/27/2024

THE CRIMSON PIRATE

On this day in 1952, the Crimson Pirate was released - starring Burt Lancaster as buccaneer Captain Vallo with Nick Cravat as mute sidekick Ojo (apparently his thick New York accent made for an unconvincing pirate).

Eva Bartok simmers as the hot-blooded Consuelo, and there’s even an appearance by a wet-behind-the-ears Christopher Lee as a young military attaché.

It’s easy to see how the film ran way over budget, with lavish (though wildly stylized) costumes, dramatic sea battles and probably the first hot air balloon to be featured in a pirate movie.

The Crimson Pirate is a lively romp through the 18th century Caribbean, with the acrobatic Lancaster giving all new meaning to the phrase “I do my own stunts”. The film is neither historically accurate nor particularly original, but it’s still old school swashbuckling entertainment at its best.

Rated 100% fresh by Rotten Tomatoes.

Captured at Cape Fear RiverOn this day in 1718, gentleman pirate Stede Bonnet and his crew were defeated and captured by...
09/27/2024

Captured at Cape Fear River

On this day in 1718, gentleman pirate Stede Bonnet and his crew were defeated and captured by Colonel William Rhett at the mouth of the Cape Fear River.

Bonnet had chosen a nearby inlet as a secure spot to careen and repair his three ships and to ride out the impending hurricane season. Unfortunately for him, news of his presence soon reached the governor of South Carolina who had ordered the pirate threat destroyed.

On the night of September 26th, two armed sloops under Rhett's command sailed into the shoals near the pirates' lair. Bonnet's crew, believing the vessels to be merchants, set out to attack them by canoe but quickly retreated when they instead found pirate-hunting militia ships.

Bonnet could (and should) have escaped upriver by canoe under cover of the night, but instead chose to fight his way out to open sea by the light of day. His three sloops, crewed by just over forty men, attacked Rhett's ships at the break of dawn.

After exchanging a few volleys and maneuvering wildly for better position in the shallows, all the ships were grounded just barely within firing range. They exchanged fire for the next five hours until the rising tide freed the militia ships but not the pirates.

As the end drew near, Bonnet gave orders to ignite the powder magazines and scuttle the ships, but was instead convinced to surrender by his men. He and his surviving crewmen were taken to Charleston to await trial.

The South Sea Claimed For SpainOn this day in 1513, Spanish explorer, treasure-hunter and conquistador Vasco Núñez de B...
09/25/2024

The South Sea Claimed For Spain

On this day in 1513, Spanish explorer, treasure-hunter and conquistador Vasco Núñez de Balboa claimed possession of the South Sea (later known as the Pacific Ocean). Leading a small expeditionary force of 190 men and a pack of dogs, Balboa landed at the Isthmus of Panama.

Engaging and conquering the indigenous tribes as they journeyed inland, Balboa's force had dwindled to a mere 26 men by the time they ascended the mountain range along the Chucunaque River and became the first Europeans to lay eyes upon the, until then, mythical South Sea.

Balboa fought his way through several more tribal territories, plundering their treasures, before returning to Santa Maria with more than 100,000 castellanos in gold and an additional fortune in pearls.

From Sailor to SamuraiEnglish sailor William Adams was born on this day in 1564. Apprenticed at Limehouse, he learned sh...
09/24/2024

From Sailor to Samurai

English sailor William Adams was born on this day in 1564. Apprenticed at Limehouse, he learned shipbuilding, astronomy and navigation at an early age. After serving under Sir Francis Drake in his defeat of the Spanish Armada, Adams sailed in a variety of capacities ranging from trade to exploration - including a two-year search for the Northwest Passage in the Arctic.

In June of 1598, he sailed as Pilot Major of five ships for an expedition of Dutch East India Company to the Far East. A series of storms and skirmishes left all but one of the ships captured or claimed by the sea. In April of 1600, Adams' ship Leifde arrived at Kyûshû, Japan carrying about 20 sick and dying men out of more than 100 who began the journey. They were summarily arrested and imprisoned at Osaka Castle.

Portuguese Jesuit missionaries claimed the Englishmen were pirates and demanded their ex*****on, but Adams' combined knowledge of mathematics and nautical engineering appealed to his captors. He was enlisted to help the commander of the Japanese navy oversee construction of the country's first Western-style ships.

Adams became a favorite of the Sh**un and, as he learned the language, became both a translator and personal advisor to Tokugawa leyasu. He was given a title and presented with two swords representing the authority of a Samurai. Despite having a wife and children in England, the Sh**un forbid Adams' return to Europe. He declared that Adams' Western persona died when he was reborn as the Samurai Muira Anjin, effectively making his wife a widow.

William Adams - the first Western Samurai -remained in Japan until his death at age 55 in 1620. He was highly influential in the field of international relations and was instrumental in the establishment of trading factories in Japan by both England and the Netherlands.

The character Captain John Blackthorne in James Clavell's 1975 novel "Shōgun" was based on William Adams.

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