The most successful pirate in history. The most famous names of pirate ships in history, literature and cinema

The Adventure Galley is the favorite ship of William Kidd, an English privateer and pirate. This unusual frigate galley was equipped with straight sails and oars, which made it possible to maneuver both against the wind and in calm weather. The 287-ton vessel with 34 guns accommodated 160 crew members and was primarily intended to destroy the ships of other pirates.

Queen Anne's Revenge is the flagship of the legendary captain Edward Teach, nicknamed Blackbeard. This 40-gun frigate was originally called Concorde, belonged to Spain, then moved to France until it was finally captured by Blackbeard Under his leadership, the ship was strengthened and renamed.Queen Anne's Revenge sank dozens of merchant and military ships that got in the way of the famous pirate.

The Whydah is the flagship of Black Sam Bellamy, one of the pirates of the golden age of piracy. The Ouida was a fast and manoeuvrable vessel, capable of carrying many treasures. Unfortunately for Black Sam, only a year after the start of the pirate "career" the ship was caught in a terrible storm and was thrown ashore. The entire team, except for two people, died. By the way, Sam Bellamy was the richest pirate in history, according to Forbes recalculation, his fortune totaled about 132 million dollars in the modern equivalent.

"Royal Fortune" (Royal Fortune) belonged to Bartholomew Roberts, the famous Welsh corsair, whose death ended the golden age of piracy. Bartholomew changed several ships during his career, but the 42-gun three-masted battleship was his favourite. On it, he accepted his death in battle with the British warship "Swallow" in 1722.

The Fancy is the ship of Henry Avery, also known as Lanky Ben and the Arch-Pirate. The Spanish 30-gun frigate "Charles II" successfully plundered French ships, but eventually a riot broke out on it, and power passed to Avery, who served as the first mate. Avery renamed the ship Imagination and sailed on it until he ended his career.

The Happy Delivery is a small but favorite ship of George Lauter, an 18th century English pirate. His crowning tactic was to ram his enemy ship with simultaneous lightning-fast boarding.

The Golden Hind was an English galleon under the command of Sir Francis Drake who circumnavigated the world between 1577 and 1580. Initially, the ship was called the Pelican, but upon entering the Pacific Ocean, Drake renamed it in honor of his patron, Lord Chancellor Christopher Hutton, who had a golden doe on his coat of arms.

« Rising Sun"(Rising Sun) - a ship owned by Christopher Moody, a truly ruthless thug who did not take prisoners on principle. This 35-gun frigate terrified Moody's enemies until he was safely hanged - but he went down in history with the most unusual pirate flag known, yellow on a red background, and even with winged hourglass to the left of the skull.

The Speaker is the first capital ship of corsair John Bowen, a successful pirate and excellent tactician. The Talkative is a large 50-gun ship with a displacement of 450 tons, originally used to transport slaves, and after being captured by Bowen, for daring attacks on Mauritanian ships.

The Revenge is the ten-gun sloop of Steed Bonnet, also known as the "gentleman of the pirates". Bonnet lived a rich, albeit short-lived life, having managed to be a small landowner, serve under Blackbeard, fall under an amnesty and again embark on the path of piracy. The small, maneuverable Retribution sank many larger ships.

Large and tiny, powerful and maneuverable - all these ships, as a rule, were built for completely different purposes, but sooner or later ended up in the hands of corsairs. Some ended their "career" in battle, others were resold, others were drowned in storms, but all of them glorified their owners in one way or another.

Yes, yes, the same Morgan, whose dynasty now stands behind the backs of many presidents of various countries and tells who and what to do.

Henry Morgan (1635-1688) became the most famous pirate in the world, enjoying a kind of fame. This man became famous not so much for his corsair exploits as for his activities as a commander and politician. Morgan's main merit was the help of England in seizing control over the entire Caribbean Sea. Ever since childhood, Henry was a fidget, which affected his adult life. In a short time, he managed to be a slave, collect his own gang of thugs and get his first ship. Along the way, many people were robbed. While in the service of the Queen, Morgan directed his energy to ruin Spanish colonies, it worked out great for him. As a result, everyone learned the name of the active sailor. But then the pirate suddenly decided to settle down - he got married, bought a house ... However, a violent temper took its toll, besides, at his leisure, Henry realized that it was much more profitable to capture coastal cities than just rob sea ​​vessels. Once Morgan used a tricky move. On the way to one of the cities, he took big ship and filled it to the brim with gunpowder, sending it to the Spanish port at dusk. A huge explosion led to such turmoil that there was simply no one to defend the city. So the city was taken, and the local fleet was destroyed, thanks to Morgan's cunning. Storming Panama, the commander decided to attack the city from land, sending the army around the city. As a result, the maneuver was a success, the fortress fell. Last years Morgan spent his life as Lieutenant Governor of Jamaica. His whole life was spent at a frantic pirate pace, with all the charms appropriate to the occupation in the form of alcohol. Only rum defeated the brave sailor - he died of cirrhosis of the liver and was buried as a nobleman. True, the sea took his ashes - the cemetery plunged into the sea after the earthquake.

Francis Drake (1540-1596) was born in England, in the family of a priest. The young man began his maritime career as a cabin boy on a small merchant ship. It was there that the smart and observant Francis learned the art of navigation. Already at the age of 18, he received command of his own ship, which he inherited from the old captain. In those days, the queen blessed the pirate raids, so long as they were directed against the enemies of England. During one of these voyages, Drake fell into a trap, but, despite the death of 5 other English ships, he managed to save his ship. The pirate quickly became famous for his cruelty, and fortune fell in love with him. Trying to take revenge on the Spaniards, Drake begins to wage his own war against them - he robs their ships and cities. In 1572, he managed to capture the "Silver Caravan", carrying more than 30 tons of silver, which immediately made the pirate rich. An interesting feature of Drake was the fact that he not only sought to loot more, but also to visit previously unknown places. As a result, many sailors were filled with gratitude to Drake for his work in clarifying and correcting the map of the world. With the permission of the queen, the pirate went on a secret expedition to South America, with official version Australian research. The expedition was a great success. Drake maneuvered so cleverly, avoiding the traps of enemies, that he managed to make a trip around the world on his way home. Along the way, he attacked the Spanish settlements in South America, circled Africa and brought home potato tubers. Total profit from the campaign was unprecedented - more than half a million pounds. Then it was twice the budget of the whole country. As a result, right on board the ship, Drake was knighted - an unprecedented case, which has no analogues in history. The apogee of the pirate's greatness came at the end of the 16th century, when he took part as an admiral in the defeat of the Invincible Armada. In the future, luck turned away from the pirate, during one of the subsequent voyages to the American shores, he fell ill with dengue fever and died.

Edward Teach (1680-1718) better known by his nickname Blackbeard. It was because of this external attribute that Tich was considered a terrible monster. The first mention of the activities of this corsair refers only to 1717, what the Englishman did before that remained unknown. By indirect evidence, one can guess that he was a soldier, but deserted and became a filibuster. Then he was already pirating, terrifying people with his beard, which covered almost the entire face. Tich was very brave and courageous, which earned him the respect of other pirates. He wove wicks into his beard, which, smoking, terrified opponents. In 1716, Edward was given command of his sloop to conduct privateer operations against the French. Teach soon captured a larger ship and made it his flagship, renaming it Queen Anne's Revenge. The pirate at this time operates in the Jamaica region, robbing everyone in a row and gaining new henchmen. By the beginning of 1718, there were already 300 people under the command of Tich. In a year, he managed to capture more than 40 ships. All the pirates knew that a bearded man was on one of uninhabited islands hides the treasure, but no one has found out exactly where. The atrocities of the pirate against the British and the robbery of the colonies forced the authorities to declare a hunt for Blackbeard. An impressive reward was announced and Lieutenant Maynard was hired to track down Teach. In November 1718, the pirate was overtaken by the authorities and was killed during the battle. Teach's head was chopped off, and the body was hung on a yardarm.

William Kidd (1645-1701). Born in Scotland near the docks, the future pirate decided from childhood to connect his fate with the sea. In 1688, Kidd, being a simple sailor, survived a shipwreck near Haiti and was forced to become a pirate. In 1689, having betrayed his associates, William took possession of the frigate, calling it "Blessed William". With the help of a letter of marque, Kidd took part in the war against the French. In the winter of 1690, part of the team left him, and Kidd decided to settle down. He married a wealthy widow, taking possession of land and property. But the heart of a pirate demanded adventure, and now, after 5 years, he is already a captain again. The powerful frigate "Brave" was intended to rob, but only the French. After all, the expedition was sponsored by the state, which did not need unnecessary political scandals. However, the sailors, seeing the scarcity of profits, periodically revolted. The capture of a rich ship with French goods did not save the situation. Fleeing from his former subordinates, Kidd surrendered into the hands of the British authorities. The pirate was taken to London, where he quickly became a bargaining chip in the fight. political parties. On charges of piracy and the murder of a ship's officer (who was the instigator of the mutiny), Kidd was sentenced to death. In 1701, the pirate was hanged, and his body hung in an iron cage over the Thames for 23 years, as a warning to the corsairs of imminent punishment.

Mary Read (1685-1721). Since childhood, the girl was dressed in the clothes of a boy. So the mother tried to hide the death of her son who died early. At the age of 15, Mary went to serve in the army. In the battles in Flanders, under the name Mark, she showed miracles of courage, but she did not wait for promotion. Then the woman decided to join the cavalry, where she fell in love with her colleague. After the end of hostilities, the couple got married. However, happiness did not last long, her husband died unexpectedly, Mary, dressed in men's clothing became a sailor. The ship fell into the hands of pirates, the woman was forced to join them, cohabiting with the captain. In battle, Mary wore a male uniform, participating in skirmishes on an equal basis with everyone else. Over time, the woman fell in love with an artisan who helped a pirate. They even got married and were going to end the past. But even here the happiness did not last long. Pregnant Reid was caught by the authorities. When she was caught along with other pirates, she said that she was committing robberies against her will. However, other pirates showed that there was no one more determined than Mary Read in the matter of robbing ships and boarding. The court did not dare to hang a pregnant woman, she patiently waited for her fate in a Jamaican prison, not being afraid of a shameful death. But a high fever killed her first.

Olivier (Francois) le Wasser became the most famous French pirate. He bore the nickname "La blues", or "buzzard". A Norman nobleman of noble origin was able to turn the island of Tortuga (now Haiti) into an impregnable fortress of filibusters. Initially, Le Vasseur was sent to the island to protect the French settlers, but he quickly drove the British out of there (according to other sources - the Spaniards) and began to pursue his own policy. Being a talented engineer, the Frenchman designed a well-fortified fortress. Le Vasseur issued filibuster very dubious documents for the right to hunt the Spaniards, taking the lion's share of the booty for himself. In fact, he became the leader of the pirates, without taking a direct part in the hostilities. When in 1643 the Spaniards failed to take the island, having discovered fortifications with surprise, the authority of le Wasser grew noticeably. He finally refused to obey the French and pay deductions to the crown. However, the spoiled character, tyranny and tyranny of the Frenchman led to the fact that in 1652 he was killed by his own friends. According to legend, Le Wasser collected and hid the largest treasure of all time, worth 235 million pounds in today's money. Information about the location of the treasure was kept in the form of a cryptogram around the neck of the governor, but the gold has never been found.

William Dampier (1651-1715) often referred to not just as a pirate, but also as a scientist. After all, he made as many as three round-the-world voyages, opening in pacific ocean many islands. Orphaned early, William chose the sea path. At first he took part in trading voyages, and then he managed to make war. In 1674, an Englishman came to Jamaica as a trading agent, but his career in this capacity did not work out, and Dampier was forced to become a sailor of a merchant ship again. After exploring the Caribbean, William settled on the shores of the Gulf of Mexico, on the Yucatan coast. Here he found friends in the form of runaway slaves and filibusters. Dampier's later life took place in the idea of ​​traveling around Central America, pillaging Spanish settlements on land and at sea. He sailed in the waters of Chile, Panama, New Spain. Dampier began to keep notes of his adventures almost immediately. As a result, in 1697, his book "A New Journey Around the World" was published, which made him famous. Dampier became a member of the most prestigious houses in London, entered the royal service and continued his research, writing new book. However, in 1703, on an English ship, Dampier continued a series of robberies of Spanish ships and settlements in the Panama region. In 1708-1710, he took part as a navigator of a corsair round-the-world expedition. The works of the pirate scientist turned out to be so valuable for science that he is considered to be one of the fathers of modern oceanography.

Zheng Shi (1785-1844) considered one of the most successful pirates. The facts that she commanded a fleet of 2000 ships, on which more than 70 thousand sailors served, will tell about the scale of her actions. The 16-year-old prostitute "Madame Jing" married the famous pirate Zheng Yi. After his death in 1807, the widow inherited a pirate fleet of 400 ships. Corsairs not only attacked merchant ships off the coast of China, but also swam deep into the mouths of the rivers, devastating coastal settlements. The emperor was so surprised by the actions of the pirates that he sent his fleet against them, but this did not have significant consequences. The key to Zheng Shi's success was the strict discipline she established on the courts. She put an end to traditional pirate freedoms - plundering allies and raping prisoners was punishable by death. However, as a result of the betrayal of one of her captains, a female pirate in 1810 was forced to conclude a truce with the authorities. Her further career took place as the owner of a brothel and a brothel for gambling. The story of a pirate woman is reflected in literature and cinema, there are many legends about her.

Edward Lau (1690-1724) also known as Ned Lau. For most of his life, this man traded in petty theft. In 1719, his wife died in childbirth, and Edward realized that from now on nothing ties him to the house. After 2 years, he became a pirate operating around the Azores, New England and the Caribbean. This time is considered the end of the age of piracy, but Lau became famous for a short time managed to capture more than a hundred ships, while showing a rare bloodthirstiness.

Aruj Barbarossa (1473-1518) became a pirate at the age of 16, after the Turks captured his native island of Lesvos. Already at the age of 20, Barbarossa became a merciless and brave corsair. Having escaped from captivity, he soon seized a ship for himself, becoming the leader. Aruj entered into an agreement with the Tunisian authorities, who allowed him to organize a base on one of the islands in exchange for a share of the booty. As a result, the pirate fleet of Arouge terrorized all Mediterranean ports. Having got involved in politics, Arouj eventually became the ruler of Algeria under the name of Barbarossa. However, the fight against the Spaniards did not bring good luck to the Sultan - he was killed. His work was continued by his younger brother, known as Barbaross II.

Bartholomew Roberts (1682-1722)

Captain Bartholomew Roberts is an unusual pirate. He was born in 1682. Roberts was the most successful pirate of his time, always well and tastefully dressed, with excellent manners, he did not drink alcohol, read the Bible and fought without removing the cross from his neck, which surprised his fellow corsairs very much. The stubborn and brave young man, who stepped on the slippery path of sea adventures and robberies, became a fairly famous personality of that time in a short four-year career as a filibuster. Roberts died in a fierce battle and was buried, in accordance with his will, at sea.

Sam Bellamy (1689-1717)

Love led Sam Bellamy to the path of sea robbery. Twenty-year-old Sam fell in love with Maria Hallet, the love was mutual, but the girl's parents did not give her in marriage to Sam. He was poor. And in order to prove to the whole world the right to the hand of Maria Bellamy to become a filibuster. He went down in history as "Black Sam". He got his nickname because he preferred his unruly black hair to a powdered wig, tying it, put it in a knot. At its core, Captain Bellamy was known as a noble man; on his ships, black pirates served along with white pirates, which was simply unthinkable in the era of slavery. The ship on which he sailed to meet his beloved Mary Hallet, got into a storm and sank. Black Sam died without leaving the captain's bridge.

These ships have long been burning in the furnaces of the underworld. All because the most evil pirates carried out their most terrible plans on them.

"Adventure" (Adventure Galley)

Favorite ship of William Kidd. This is a Scottish sailor and an English privateer, who became famous thanks to a high-profile trial - he was accused of crimes and pirate attacks. The results are disputed to this day.

“Adventure” is an unusual frigate galley equipped with straight sails and oars. Due to the latter, it was very maneuverable - both against the wind and in calm weather. Weight - 287 tons, armament - 34 guns. 160 crew members could easily fit on board. The main goal of the "Adventure" is the destruction of the ships of other pirates.

Source: wikipedia.org

"Revenge of Queen Anne" (Queen Anne's Revenge)

The flagship of the legendary Captain Edward Teach. Teach, also known as Blackbeard, was an English pirate who operated in the Caribbean in 1703-1718.

Tich loved "Revenge" for armament - 40 guns. The frigate, by the way, was originally called "Concord" and belonged to Spain. Then he moved to France, and then he was captured by the Blackbeard. So the “Concorde” became the “Revenge of Queen Anne”, which sank dozens of merchant and military ships that got in the way of the famous pirate.

Source: wikipedia.org

"Ouida" (Whydah)

"Master" - Pirate Black Sam Bellamy, one of the most famous pirates The golden age of sea robbery. The Ouida was a fast and manoeuvrable vessel, capable of carrying many treasures. But a year after the start of the pirate robbery, the ship fell into a terrible storm and was thrown ashore. Bottom line: the entire team (except for two people) died.

Source: wikipedia.org

"Royal Fortune" (Royal Fortune)

It was listed in the possessions of Bartholomew Roberts - the famous Welsh pirate (real name - John Roberts), who hunted in the Atlantic and the Caribbean. Captured, by the way, more than 400 ships. Distinguished by extravagant behavior.

So, Roberts was crazy about the 42-gun 3-masted "King's Fortune". On board, he met his death - in battle with the British warship "Swallow" in 1722.

Source: wikipedia.org

"Fantasy" (Fancy)

The owner is Henry Avery, aka the Arch-Pirate and Lanky Ben, a pirate nicknamed “one of the most successful buccaneers and gentlemen of fortune.” Fantasia was originally the Spanish 30-gun frigate Charles II. Her crew successfully robbed French ships. But then a riot broke out on it, and power passed to Avery, who served as the first assistant to the captain. The pirate renamed the ship and continued to rage on it (and with it) until death separated them.

Source: wikipedia.org

“Happy Delivery“ (Happy Delivery)

A small, but no less beloved ship of George Lowther, an English pirate of the 18th century, who “worked” in the Caribbean and the Atlantic. Lowther's chip is a ramming of an enemy ship with a simultaneous lightning-fast boarding. Often a pirate did this on the “Delivery“.

"Rising Sun" (Rising Sun)

The ship was part of the estate of Christopher Moody, one of the most ruthless thugs - in principle, he did not take anyone prisoner, he quickly and efficiently released everyone to the next world. So, the “Rising Sun” is a 35-gun frigate that terrified everyone, especially Moody's enemies. True, this continued until the thug was hanged. The bright and then painfully recognizable flag of Moody deserves special attention.

1680 - 1718

The most famous pirate in the world is Edward Teach, or he is also called Blackbeard. He was known to the world for his cruelty, desperation, strength, indomitable passion for rum and women. On his behalf, the whole Caribbean Sea shuddered and English possessions North America. He was tall, strong build, had a thick black beard braided into braids, wore a wide-brimmed hat and a black cloak, and always had seven loaded pistols. Opponents in horror surrendered without resistance, considering him a fiend. In 1718, during the next battle, the pirate Blackbeard continued to fight to the last, wounded by 25 shots, and died from a saber strike.

1635 - 1688

This pirate was known as the Cruel or Pirate Admiral. One of the authors of the Pirate Code. An incredible man who excelled in the trade of piracy and was a respected lieutenant governor, commander in chief of the Jamaican navy. The pirate admiral was considered a talented military leader and a wise politician. His life was full of bright big victories. Sir Henry Morgan died in 1688 and was buried with honors in the church of St. Catherine of Port Royal. After a while, due to a strong earthquake, his grave was swallowed up by the sea.

1645 - 1701

The most bloodthirsty pirate legend. He possessed amazing endurance, special cruelty, sadistic sophistication and a skillful talent for piracy. William Kidd was an excellent expert in nautical science. He had unconditional authority among the pirates. His battles were considered the fiercest in the history of piracy. He plundered both at sea and on land. Legends about his victories, countless treasures live to this day. The search for the stolen treasure of William Kidd continues to this day, but so far without success.

1540-1596

A successful English navigator and talented pirate during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. The second, after Maggelan, Francis Drake circumnavigated the world. They discovered the widest strait in the world's oceans. During his career, Captain Francis Drake made many discoveries of lands unknown to mankind. For numerous achievements and rich booty, he received the generous recognition of Queen Elizabeth I.

1682 - 1722

His real name is John Roberts, his nickname is Black Bart. The richest and most incredible pirate. He always liked to dress with taste, adhered to the manners generally accepted in society, did not drink alcohol, wore a cross and read the Bible. He knew how to convince, subdue and confidently lead minions to the intended goal. He spent many successful battles, mined a huge amount of gold (approximately 300 tons). He was shot on his own ship during a raid. The trial of the captured Black Bart pirates was the largest trial in history.

1689 - 1717

Black Sam - got such a nickname because of the principled rejection of a combed wig, preferring not to hide his naughty dark hair tied in a knot. It was love that led Black Sam to the path of piracy. He was a noble purposeful person, a wise captain and a successful pirate. Both white and black pirates served on board Captain Sam Bellamy, which was considered unthinkable at the time. He had smugglers and spies under his command. He won many victories and won incredible treasures. Black Sam died during a storm that overtook him on the way to his beloved.

1473 - 1518

Famous powerful pirate from Turkey. He was characterized by cruelty, ruthlessness, love of bullying and executions. He was involved in piracy with his brother Khair. The pirates of Barbarossa were the menace of the entire Mediterranean. So, in 1515, the entire Agiers coast was under the rule of Aruja Barbarossa. The battles under his command were sophisticated, bloody and victorious. Aruj Barbarossa died during the battle, surrounded by enemy troops in Tlemcen.

1651 - 1715

Sailor from England. By vocation, he was a researcher and discoverer. Committed 3 world travel. He became a pirate in order to have the means to occupy his research activities- studying the direction of winds and currents in the ocean. William Dampier is the author of such books as Travels and Descriptions, A New Journey Around the World, Direction of the Winds. An archipelago in the northwest coast of Australia is named after him, as well as a strait between the western coast of New Guinea and Waigeo Island.

1530 - 1603

Female pirate, legendary captain, lady of fortune. Her life was full of colorful adventures. Grace possessed heroic courage, unprecedented determination and a high talent for piracy. For enemies, she was a nightmare, for adherents, an object of admiration. Despite the fact that she had three children from her first marriage and 1 child from her second, Grace O'Malle continued her favorite business. Her activities were so successful that Queen Elizabeth I herself offered Grace to serve her, which she received a decisive refusal.

1785 - 1844

Zheng Shi closes the list of the most famous pirates in the world. She made her name in history as one of the most successful female pirates. Under the command of this small fragile Chinese robber there were 70,000 pirates. Zheng Shi started the pirate business with her husband, but after his death, she boldly took over the reign. Zheng Shi was an excellent, strict and wise captain, she formed a disciplined and strong army from a disorderly gathering of pirates. This has led to successful offensive operations and fabulous victories. Zheng Shi lived out her years quietly, the owner of a hotel, within the walls of which there was a brothel and a gambling house.

The most famous bloodthirsty pirates Video

Stories about pirates excited the imagination as far back as the 19th century, but now, thanks to the Pirates of the Caribbean series of Hollywood films, this topic has become even more popular. We invite you to "get acquainted" with the most famous of the real-life pirates.

10 PHOTOS

1. Henry Avery (1659-1699).

The pirate, known by the nickname "Lanky Ben", grew up in the family of the captain of the English fleet. When a riot broke out on the ship where he served as first mate, Everett joined the rebels and became their leader. His most famous trophy was the Indian ship Gang-i-Sawai, loaded with gold and silver coins as well as precious stones.

2. Anne Bonny (1700-1782).

Anne Bonnie, one of the few women who excelled in piracy, grew up in a wealthy mansion and received a good education. However, when her father decided to marry her off, she ran away from home with a simple sailor. Some time later, Ann Bonnie met the pirate Jack Rackham and he took her on his ship. According to eyewitnesses, in courage and ability to fight, Bonnie was not inferior to male pirates.

3. Francois Holone (1630-1671).

The French filibuster, known for his cruelty, began his career as a soldier in the West India Company. He then became a buccaneer in Saint Domingo. Ohlone's most famous operations were the capture of the Spanish cities of Maracaibo and Gibraltar. The pirate ended his warlike and bloody path at the stake of cannibals, to whom he was captured in Nicaragua.

4. Edward Lau (1690-1724).

Edward Lau was born into a family of thieves and was himself a robber with early childhood. At one time he served as a sailor, then gathered a team and captured a small sloop. Thus began his career as a pirate. During his voyage, Edward Lau captured more than a hundred ships.

5. Jack Rackham (1682-1720)

Before becoming a pirate, Jack Rackham served in the Navy from an early age. At first, things did not go well for Captain Rackham and his team - they almost got caught several times. Fame came to the pirate after he met Mary Read and Ann Bonnie, and began to rob in the waters of Jamaica. The glorious epic ended with the fact that the authorities announced a hunt for them, as a result of which Rackham was hanged, and Reed died in prison.

6. Steed Bonnet (1688-1718).

Steed Bonnet - a nobleman, before becoming a pirate, he served as a colonial militia major on the island of Barbados. According to rumors, the reason why Bonnet went to the pirates was the scandalous nature of his wife. Pirate long time robbed along the coast North America and in the south, until it attracted the attention of the authorities, who sent two sloops to the pirate's residence. Bonnet's ship was captured and hanged at White Point.

7. Bartholomew Roberts (1682-1722)

Bartholomew Roberts did not become a pirate by choice, but was forcibly added to the crew as a navigator after the pirates seized the ship he was sailing on. After becoming a captain after only six weeks, Roberts successfully traded in the Caribbean and the Atlantic, capturing more than four hundred ships.

8. Henry Morgan (1635-1688)

The son of a landowner, Henry Morgan consciously chose to become a pirate in order to make a fortune. Starting with the purchase of one ship, he soon commanded an entire flotilla of 12 pirate ships that captured entire cities. He was caught and sent to London, but soon the influential pirate was not only released, but also appointed lieutenant governor of Jamaica.

9. William Kidd (1645-1701)

According to some historians, William Kidd was not a pirate in the strict sense of the word, but carried out exclusively letters of marque. Kidd participated in the War of the League of Augsburg, commanded various capital ships and captured French and pirate ships in Indian Ocean. His further expeditions took place in various regions of the world. Most of all, Kidd became famous after his death, in connection with the legends about the treasures hidden by him, which have not been found so far.

10. Edward Teach (1680-1718).

The famous English pirate Edward Teach, nicknamed "Blackbeard", began his piracy career under the command of Captain Hornigold. Later, when Hornigold surrendered to the British authorities, Teach set sail on his own on the ship Queen Anne's Revenge. The most famous "feat" of the pirate is the blockade of Charlestown, during which 9 ships with influential passengers were captured, for which Teach received a huge ransom.