The 7 Most Famous Pirates in World History

For some time in the past, piracy was common and the captains who commanded the pirate fleets were truly feared. First-rate looters, the pirates were noted for their wit and boldness, waging bloody battles and gaining wealth. Check out seven of the most famous pirates in history.

1 - William Kidd (Scottish, 1645-1701)

Wiiliam Kidd was an elegant Scotsman who had once been a leading citizen in New York. He was actively involved in building the Trinity Church and then began his career as a privateer, originally sent to rid the seas of pirates. However, he eventually became one, but with some reluctance.

He was elected pirate captain by his crew and his biggest "feat" in the area was to attack an East India Company vessel. When he learned that he was being hunted for this act, he buried some of his treasure on Gardiner Island, anticipating its usefulness as a bargaining tool.

However, he was captured in Boston and sent to England for trial. He was sentenced to death and died after two failed attempts at the gallows. The first few times the rope broke. His body was exposed and hung by chains on the banks of the River Thames.

2 - Edward Teach - The Blackbeard - (English, 1680-1718)

Although there were more successful pirates, Blackbeard was one of the best known, and was widely feared in its day. He commanded four ships and had a pirate army of 300 people at the height of his career. Beard defeated the famous warship, the HMS "Scarborough", in a sea battle.

He was known for fighting battles holding two swords, as well as several knives and pistols on his belt and in one kind of vest. He captured over forty merchant ships in the Caribbean and without hesitation killed many of the hostage prisoners.

Blackbeard was also known to be very womanizing, but although he had many unofficial women, he was married to only a 16-year-old girl - legend has it that he offered her as a gift to his team after she tried to “correct ”The way you are. Beard was beheaded after a battle with the Royal Navy, and his head was taken as a warning to other pirates to be exposed on the Hampton River.

3 - Bartholomew Roberts "Black Bart" (English, 1682-1722)

Roberts' crew admired his adventurous courage - calling him "pistol-proof" - although he reluctantly entered piracy, as when he was younger he fell victim to pirates during an attack on a ship where He was a flight attendant.

Roberts plundered more than four hundred ships, a grand record, and captained well-protected ships on each journey. He died in a vigorous battle against British captain Chaloner Ogle and left a legion of admirers.

4 - Henry Every - Big Ben (English, 1653- year of unknown death)

Henry began his naval career in the British Royal Navy. He served on several ships before joining a mission known as the Spanish Expedition in 1693. He became pirate captain through a riot, leading to his fame as one of the most feared and successful Red Sea.

Although he didn't have many ships, the two he captured were among the best in the Indian Ocean (one of them being a treasure ship full of gold and jewels). After achieving great wealth, Henry Every retired, but he continued to be hunted everywhere and his true whereabouts at the time of his death remains unknown.

5 - Anne Bonny (Irish, 1700-1782)

When she traveled to the New World with her family, Anne fell in love and married a poor sailor named James Bonny. However, she was becoming disappointed by her husband's lack of courage and began to seek the company of brave men in Nassau.

Among these men was "Calico Jack" Rackham, the captain of a pirate ship. She joined her crew while acting and dressing like a man. So she fought under his command, and along with her pirate friend Mary Read, she persuaded the crew to wage even more bloody battles and became a true pirate.

However, she was captured with Rackham's crew and sentenced to death. Both Anne and Mary Read alleged pregnancy in prison while awaiting sentencing, and their death sentences were not executed. No one is sure how the famous pirate died, although there is speculation that she has returned home with her husband or father.

6 - Sir Henry Morgan (English, 1635-1688)

Captain Morgan was one of the most famous pirates who terrorized the Spanish Caribbean colonies in the late 1600s. Discreetly sanctioned by England, Morgan became the head of the Jamaican fleet and successfully undermined Spanish rule, undermining normality in the West Indies.

He may have plundered more than four hundred ships over his pirate career. His greatest achievement was to take the rich city of Panama with thirty ships and 1, 200 men. It was because of this raid that he was arrested and taken back to England. He then returned to the Caribbean and lived in Jamaica for the rest of his life.

7 - Ching Shih (Chinese, 1785-1844)

Also known as Cheng I Sao, Ching Shih was not only the most successful of all female pirates, she was also the most fascinating. Ching gained equality with her husband and assumed his post after his death.

Beautiful and former prostitute, the pirate controlled over 1, 500 ships with 80, 000 men, looting ships along the coast of the South China Sea, while enforcing a strict code of conduct on her crew.

When the Chinese government offered her universal pirate amnesty in exchange for peace, she accepted. His pirates, on the other hand, were able to keep their wealth and were given military jobs. After that, she lived her life in charge of a casino and a brothel.

* Originally posted 02/02/2014 .

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