Anne Bonny
Bartholomew Roberts
Charles Vane
Edward Thatch
Jack Rackham
Mary Read
Anne Bonny (c. 1700 - c. 1782) was an Irish Pirate who operated in the West Indies. Initially a young Barmaid in Nassau, Anne quickly became acquainted with Individuals such as "Calico" Jack Rackham and Mary Read, the Latter initially posing as a Man. Launching her own Career as a Pirate, she, along with Mary and Rackham, raised a small Crew and escaped the Island in August 1720, intending to execute a Series of swift Robberies before retiring with enough Gold to live off. However, the entire Crew was arrested by the British Authorities a few Months later; Anne and Mary resisted fiercely, but were unable to beat back the Soldiers by themselves. Taken to Kingston for Trial, the two Women were able to stay their Execution by revealing they were pregnant. Anne would eventually escape Prison, but Mary perished, her Health having deteriorated after giving birth. There is no historical Record of Bonny's release or Execution. This has fed Speculation of what her Fate was after her Capture, some Examples being that she was ransomed by her Father or even that she resumed a Life of Piracy under a new Identity.
Bartholomew Roberts (1682 – 1722), born John Roberts, was a Welsh Pirate who raided Ships in the Caribbean and on the West African Coast between 1719 and 1722. He is regarded by many Historians to be the most successful Pirate of all Time, judging by the number of Ships taken and the amount of Goods stolen. Roberts was not only active in the Caribbean during his Career, but also ventured as far North as Newfoundland, as far East as the western Coast of Africa, and a far South as Brazil. Prior to becoming a Pirate, Roberts was a Soldier in the British Royal Navy, turning to Piracy when the Vessel he served on was attacked by a Group of Pirates; he was later captured and pressed into their Service. Roberts became the Captain of his first Ship, the Royal Rover, after its previous Captain was captured by the Protugese while the Ship was at Dock. His Captaincy went on until his Death at the hands of Captain Chanoler Ogle during a surprise Attack on Roberts at Cape Lopez. It is believed that Roberts captured and commanded at least 470 Vessels during his Career. For his Actions, he earned the Moniker Black Bart, although the Name was never used in his Lifetime.
Charles Vane (c.1680 – March 29, 1721) was an English Pirate who preyed upon English and French Shipping. His Pirate Career lasted from 1716 to 1719. His Flagship was a Brigantine named the Ranger. Vane was among the Pirate Captains who operated out of the notorious Base at New Providence in the Bahamas known as the "Pirates' Republic", after the British abandoned the Colony during the War of the Spanish Succession.
Vane was known throughout the Caribbean as a ruthless and cruel Pirate, attacking any Vessels he saw fit for Raiding and acting rather rudely towards fellow Pirate Captains and his Crew. Vane acted as the Captain of the Ranger until he was marooned on an Island, a Result of a Mutiny led by Jack Rackham, later being found and imprisoned by the Royal British Navy. In 1721, after a relatively long Career in Piracy, he was captured and was executed by hanging at Gallows Point, Port Royal, Jamaica.
Edward Thatch (c.1680 - 22 November 1718), better known as Blackbeard, was a notorious English Pirate who operated around the West Indies and the eastern Coast of the American Colonies. Although little is known about his early Life, he was probably born in Bristol, England. He may have been a Sailor on Privateer Ships during Queen Anne's War before settling on the Bahamian Island of New Providence, a Base for Captain Benjamin Hornigold, whose Crew Teach joined sometime around 1716. Hornigold placed him in Command of a Sloop he had captured, and the Two engaged in numerous Acts of Piracy. Their Numbers were boosted by the Addition to their Fleet of two more Ships, one of which was commanded by Stede Bonnet, but toward the End of 1717 Hornigold retired from Piracy, taking two Vessels with him. Thatch later parted Company with Bonnet and settled in Bath Town, where he accepted a royal Pardon, though he was soon back at Sea, where he attracted the Attention of Alexander Spotswood, the Governor of Virginia. During a suprise Attack, Teach and several of his Crew were killed by a small Force of Sailors led by Lieutenant Robert Maynard.
John Rackham (26 December 1682 – 18 November 1720[1]), commonly known as Calico Jack, was an English Pirate Captain operating in the Bahamas and in Cuba during the early 18th Century (Rackham is often spelled as Rackam or Rackum in historical documentation, and he is also often referred to as Jack Rackham). His Nickname derived from the Calico Clothing he wore, while Jack is a Nickname for "John." After deposing Charles Vane from his Captaincy, Rackham cruised the Leeward Islands, Jamaica Channel, and Windward Passage. He accepted a Pardon some time in 1719 and moved to New Providence, where he met Anne Bonny, who at the Time was married to James Bonny. When Rackham returned to Piracy in 1720 by stealing a British Sloop, Bonny joined him. Their new Crew included Mary Read. After a short Run he was captured by Pirate Hunter Jonathan Barnet in 1720, before being hanged in November of the same Year in Port Royal, Jamaica.
Mary Read (c.1690 - 1721) a.k.a. Mark Read, was an English Pirate illegitimately born in England, in the late 17th Century, to the Widow of a Sea Captain. During her Childhood, Read was dressed as a Boy by her Mother in order to receive financial Assistance from her Grandmother after the Death of her older legitimate Brother. Read, still disguising herself as a Boy, went on to work as a Footboy and later a Sailor, though she would eventually join the British Royal Navy during either the Nine Years War or the War of Spanish Succession (no one knows for sure). She later married a Flemish Soldier and opened an Inn with him, called The Three Horseshoes. She continued to dress as a Man and served in Holland's Military until her Husband's Death. This prompted Read to leave Holland and set sail for the West Indies; along the way her Ship was attacked by Pirates, later joining them. She was a Privateer from 1718-1719, then left to join "Calico" Jack Rackham and his Crew in 1720. She was captured with the rest of Rackham's Crew later that Year, but escaped hanging by revealing she was pregnant. Read died in prison due to a fever after giving birth to her Child.
Faces of the Golden Age
Every Profession has its Experts, and Piracy is no Stranger to this. From the Beginning of the Buccaneering Period to the bitter end of the Post-Spanish Succession Period, countless Pirates scoured and plundered the World's Seas, though only a Handful have ascended to Fame and acquired the Fortune they so greatly desired. Here are but a Few of those Faces that have been remembered throughout History, though if you wish to learn of more, The General History of the Pyrates, penned by one Captain Charles Johnson (alledgedly; it is believed this is a Pseudonym) details the Lives and Careers of plenty more Pirates, some you may know and some you might not.