You may be familiar with pirates and their colorful legacies through books, movies, and other forms of media, but only a few of them stand out in terms of infamy. From Caribbean raiders to Gulf of Guinea slavers, here are some of the most notorious pirates of all time, their notorious deeds, and the ultimate outcomes of their oft-daring escapades.
Sir Francis Drake
The English pirate, Sir Francis Drake, was one of the most daring and successful privateers of the 16th century. His seafaring exploits have made him one of the most recognizable pirates in history. Although he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth I for his services to the crown, Drake was no stranger to pirating, often attacking and plundering Spanish-controlled ships and ports to line his pockets.
Henry Every
Henry Every was an English pirate who rose to fame when he and his crew plundered an Indian merchant ship in 1695. At the time, it was the largest amount stolen from a single vessel, amounting to around £600,000 in modern-day currency. His daring escapade made him the most wanted man in the world at the time, but he managed to evade capture and was never seen again.
Bartholomew Roberts
Bartholomew Roberts is another English pirate who rose to fame during the 18th century. His daring exploits in the West Indies and along the African coast earned him the dubious title of ‘Black Bart’, and he is believed to have plundered upwards of 400 ships in a four-year reign of terror. Roberts was finally captured and killed in a naval battle off the coast of West Africa, thus ending his reign of terror.
Blackbeard
The notorious English pirate Blackbeard, whose real name was Edward Teach, is one of the most infamous pirates in history. He terrorized the American east coast and the Caribbean from 1717-1718, and is rumored to have been one of the most ruthless and feared pirates of his time. Although the extent of his pirating activities is not known for certain, it is believed that he captured hundreds of ships and plundered untold amounts of riches and never revealed the hiding places of his plunder.
Anne Bonny
Anne Bonny was an Irish-born pirate who operated in the Caribbean Sea in the early 18th century. She is best known for her brief but daring career during which she became one of the most feared female pirates of all time. Her exploits included plundering a number of ships and leading raids on many vessels. Ultimately she was captured, tried and convicted in Jamaica, and then vanished from recorded history.
Calico Jack
The English pirate Calico Jack, often attributed with the invention of a now famous flag, operated in the Caribbean Sea in the early 18th century. Calico Jack was responsible for a series of daring attacks during which he plundered over a dozen ships and made off with a great deal of wealth. He was ultimately captured, tried and sentenced to hang in Port Royal. His remains are now buried in Jamaica.
Cheng I Sao
Cheng I Sao, sometimes referred to as the “Female Pirate of the South China Sea,” was one of the most powerful and successful female pirates in Chinese history. She and her husband, Chang Pao, began their pirating career in 1801, plundering ships and seizing ports along the South China Sea. Her pirating career came to an abrupt end when she was betrayed by her own men and arrested.
The list of notorious pirates from history is long and varied, and the adventures, exploits, and the ultimate outcomes of each of their voyages, constitute a colorful account of their daring deeds. From Sir Francis Drake to Cheng I Sao, these infamous pirates have become part of popular folklore, and their actions for good or for ill will be remembered for many generations to come.
