Pirates Captains Last update 2nd April 2004
Here follows a list of 'historical' pirates of this era and slightly before, in the late 1600's. I have included what scant information I know about them. Links lead to a more detailed account. Ships names are reflected in the real ships list
Allison, Robert- English buccaneer 1679-1680 He commanded a small ship of 24 men. He left Jamaica with 6 other captains, including Bartholomew Sharp. They sacked Portobelo in February and then set out to sack Panama. He remained behind and guarded the ships.
Ansell, John - English buccaneer 1689 One of the captains who raided Maracaibo and Gibraltar(Venezuela) with Henry Morgan
Anstis, Thomas - English pirate 1718-1723 Killed by his crew when they mutinied.
Archembeau, Capt - French buccaneer 1681
Auger, John - British pirate d1718
Avery, John/Henry
Ball, Roberto / Robert Wall / Roverbal c1543
Bamfield, John - English buccaneer 1665
Barnes, Capt - English buccaneer 1677. Raided Santa Maria, Venezuela, in accompaniement with Capt Lagarde
Bellamy, Charles.d1726 Serving as captain, he began his career in the West Indies, plundering several ships off the coast of Carolina and New England. He was noted as a speaker and often entertained his crew with his words. His fleet was wrecked off Massachusetts in 1726. He and 7 of his crew survived and were captured. They were convicted and hung in 1726.
Bellamy, Samuel - British pirate d1717
Blanc, Capt - French buccaneer 1697. Took part in the sack of Cartagena
Blanco, Agostino - Spanish pirate. Had a motley crew of all nations operating out of the Bahamas.
Blout, Capt - French buccaneer 1697. Took part in the sack of Cartagena
Bonnet, Stede - British pirate d1718. Stede was a retired army major, leading a peacable life before deciding to run to pirating. The reason why is not clear, though it is assumed a nagging wife drove him to adventure. He bought a ship and hired a crew to take to the sea. Being only mildly successful, he ran into Edward Teach at Carolina in 1718, and who took over his ship. He acted as a layabout on Teach's ship while a new captain took over his ship and crew. He eventually got his own ship back and his nature turned into a merciless and successful pirate. He was eventually captured, escaped, and then hung in Carolina.
Bonny (Bonney), Anne - c1720 Born in County Cork, Ireland. She was the daughter of a lawyer who migrated to Carolina and owned a prospering plantation. Anne fell in love with a young sailor and ran away with him to the West Indies. Abandoning him, she took up with Jack Rackham, gaining notoriety as a bloodthirsty pirate. She was captured along with Rackham and Mary Read in 1720 and condemned to hang. She escaped the noose by being pregnant, after which she disappears from the records.
Bournano, Capt - Frenchbuccaneer 1678-1680
Bradley, Joseph - English buccaneer 1671
Bran (Brand), Cpt - English buccaneer 1668-1669
Brasiliano, Roche - Dutch buccaneer 1650's & 1660's
Brewster, Adam - English buccaneer 1668-1669
Browne, James - Scottish pirate 1677
Bunce, Phineas - British pirate 1718
Burgess, Samuel - British pirate d1716
Clarke, Thomas - English buccaneer 1689
Cocklyn, Thomas - British pirate 1717-1719
Collier, Edward - English buccaneer 1668-1672
Condent, Edmund - British pirate 1718-1720
Cook, Edmund - English buccaneer d1681
Cook, John - English buccaneer d1694
Cottuy, Capt - French buccaneer 1697
Coxon, John - English buccaneer 1676-1684
Culliford, Robert - British pirate 1690-1698
Cunningham, William - British pirate, d1718
Dampier, William - British buccaneer 1652-1715
Daniel, Capt - French buccaneer 1700-1705
Davis, Edward - English buccaneer 1680-1688
Davis, Howell - Welsh pirate d1719 or 1720. He was a master of ship camouflage, he often passed as a merchant or pirate hunter to get nearer to his targets. His crew thought so much of him they could imagine no better captain or challenge beyond him.
Davis, John - English buccaneer 1665
De Cossey, Stephen James d1717 Tried and hanged for piracy at Charleston
De Mont, Francis d1717 Captured in South Carolina. Tried at Charleston and convicted of taking the ship Turtle Dove and other vessels July 1716. Hanged in July 1717
Deal, Captain Robert. d1718 A one time mate to Captain Charles Vane. He was placed in command of a small sloop and took many prizes off the coasts of Carolina and New England. He was captured in West Indies, hung in Jamaica.
Deane, John - English pirate - 1670s
Delander, Robert - English pirate 1670-1671
de L'Isle, Capt - French buccaneer 1659 or 1661
Dempster, Edward - English pirate 1668-1669
Desmaris, Capt - Fench buccaneer 1685
Dobson, Richard - English pirate 1668-1671
Doglar, Jean - French pirate 1668
Duchesne, Capt - French buccaneer 1683
Ernados, Emanuel d1717 Carolina pirate who was hanged at Charleston, South Carolina.
England, Edward - British pirate 1717-1720. Driven out of the Caribbean by the British in 1718, he turned to the waters of Africa for plunder. He was reported as being of generous nature and kind. Because of this, his crew eventually elected a new captain after he released a captured merchant captain. He died a pauper in Madagascar. Plundered Capt Leonard on 15 Feb 1718.
Essex, Cornelius - English buccaneer 1679-1680
Evans, John - Welsh pirate 1722
Everson, Jacob - Dutch pirate 1680's
Fenn, John - English pirate 1721-1723
Fly, William d1726 From Jamaica. Ex-prizefighter. After heading successful mutiny and killing officers, Fly was elected captain of the Elizabeth. First prize was the John and Hannah, captured off the Carolina coast. He was hung at Boston July 17. His career as a pirate lasted just one month.
Francois, Pierre - French pirate 1660
Freeman, Capt - English buccaneer 1663-1665
Galer, Capt - French buccaneer 1697
Graff, Laurens de - Dutch buccaneer 1682-1695
Gramont, Michel de - French buccaneer 1678-1686
Grillo, Diego ('El Mulato') - Afro-Spanish buccaneer 1671-d1673
Grogniet, Francois - French buccaneer 1687
Hamlin, Jean - French pirate 1682-1684
Hands, Israel - British pirate 1718
Harris, Charles - Noteable because he had a native American crewman.
Harris, Peter English buccaneer 1671-1681
Hatsell, Capt - British buccaneer 1665 - He commanded the garrison left behind on Providence Island after Edward Mansfield's conquest. He was recaptured when the Spanish took the island back, and presumably died in prison.
Hornigold, Benjamin - British pirate 1716-1717
Howard, Thomas - British pirate 1698-1703
Jackman, Capt - English buccaneer 1663-1665
Jennings, Henry - English pirate 1715-1717
Kelly, James - British pirate 1680-1696
Kennedy, Walter - English pirate d1721. Bartholomew Roberts Lieutenant, he was thrown in charge when Roberts chased a prize and became separated from the rest of his ships. Kennedy was elected captain and they sailed away, most wanting to retire from piracy in a sloop, the rest to continue in a brigantine. They released a captured captain and crew who was with them, giving them a prize vessel. Kennedy and his pirates took the Rover and proceeded to Barbados, whey they took a Virginia ship under a Quaker called Captain Knot. 8 of the pirates chose to retire and sail off with the quaker. They were betrayed to Governor Spotswood by Knot, and were subsequently captured and hung. Off Virginia the pirates captured a sloop, and a further number of pirates who were for retiring sailed off. Kennedy was also for retirning, but the pirates who were for further piracy did not trust him not to betray them, and they took him with them. They headed off to Ireland, but mis navigated to Scotland, where they turned ashore. Here their riotous behaviour betrayed them and most were captured. Kennedy had travelled to Ireland but run out of money and moved to London. He ran a whorehouse, until one of his girls betrayed his past. He was tried, and hung at Execution Dock, 19th July 1721.
Kidd, William - Scottish pirate 1645-1701
Knight, William - English buccaneer 1680's
La Bouch (Bouse?), Oliver - French pirate 1716-1721 In 1717 aws sailing a 20 gun ship with a crew of 170
Lagarde, Capt - French buccaneer 1677
La Veven, Capt - French pirate 1660's
Le Basque, Michel - Frenchbuccaneer 1667
Le Pain, Peter - French pirate 1682
Le Picard, Capt - French buccaneer 1685-1688
Le Picard, Pierre - French buccaneer 1668
Le Sage, Capt - French buccaneer 1684-1687
Lescuyer, Capt - French buccaneer 1685
Lessone, Capt - French buccaneer 1675-1680
Lewis, William - British pirate d1718
L'Olonnais, Francois - French buccaneer 1630-1668
Low, Edward (Ned) - English pirate out of Boston 1721-1724
Lowther, George - Englishpirate 1721-1723
Lucas, John - Dutch buccaneer 1663 - A Spanish squadron captured Lucas' brigantine off Campeche, Mexico.
Lyn, Phillip - c1725 -Sailed ship Sea Nymph 2 . Plundered Fancy 29 Nov 1725
Macary, Capt - French buccaneer 1697 - Took part in the sack of Cartagena
McCarthy, Dennis - Irish pirate 1690-1718 - He accepted a pardon from Woodes Rogers when he landed at New Providence Island and declared an amnesty in July 1718. Woodes, told that McCarthy was a clean sober man, made him an officer in the militia. His trust was misplaced. McCarthy led a mutiny that seized 3 sloops bound for provisions in October. Along with Phineas Bunce, McCarthy cruely abused and marooned the officers and crew that did not join the mutiny.
Spanish coast guards attacked the pirates near Long Island. McCarthy and several men escaped ashore but were recaptured and sentenced to death. McCarthy was flamboyant and determined to die in style. He dressed in clean clothes, and tied gay ribbons to his cap, neck, wrists and knees. Stepping gleefully upto the scaffold he kicked off his shoes before he was hanged.
Mackett, Thomas - English buccaneer
Mansfield, Edward - Dutch pirate 1663-1664
Marteen, David - Dutch pirate 1663-1665
Martel, John - British pirate 1716
May, William - British pirate 1689-1699
Moody, Willam - c1718 sailed the ship Rising Sun accompanied by a brigantine of 8 guns captained by Mr Frowd, and a sloop of 8 guns
Morgan, Sir Henry - British pirate 1635-1688
Morris, John - English pirate 1663-1672
Morris, John - English pirate d1670
Norman, Richard - English pirate 1670-1671
Pain, Thomas - English buccaneer 1680-1683
Pays, Capt - French buccaneer 1697 - took part in the sack of Cartagena
Pell, Ignatius - British pirate 1718
Pennant, Jeffery - English buccaneer 1668-1669
Phillips, John - English pirate 1723
Pierre, Capt - French buccaneer 1697 - Took part in the sack of Cartagena
Prince, Lawrence - Dutch buccaneer 1670
Quelch, John - Boston pirate 1703-1704
Rackham, John/Jack - English pirate d1720 Also known as "Calico" Jack after his fashion of wearing colourful clothes. He replaced the deposed Charles Vane. He was captured and hung. His is most noted for being associated with the lady pirate Anne Bonny, whom he is said to have been besoted with.
Read, Mary - British pirate 1720
Ringrose, Basil - English buccaneer d1686
Rivero Pardel, Manoel - Portugese pirate d1670
Roberts, Bartholomew - Welsh pirate 1682-1722. Of his crew on capture, 52 members were subsequently hanged. He was said to be an excellent seaman and quite capable of finding regular employment, but his aversion to working for so called masters attracted him to the roving life. He took to pirating in 1720.
Rose, Jean - French buccaneer 1680-1685
Russell, John (Jack) - A captain in Edward Low's little navy, and Quarter Master for the whole lot of them. By all accounts a rather generous man in his early career, but like Low and Spriggs in the same fleet, they turned maniac in the end. He was a clever and skilled speaker, and a natural leader of men.
Sales, Capt - French buccaneer 1697 - Took part in the sack of Cartagena
Salter, Thomas - English buccaneer 1669 - He commanded a ship during Sir Henry Morgans raid on Maracaibo and Gibraltar, Venezuela
Sawkins, Richard - English buccaneer 1679-1680
Searle, Robert - English buccaneer 1662-1671 -
Sharp, Bartholomew - English buccaneer 1650-1688
Skyrme, James - Welsh pirate 1678-1722
Speirdyke, Bernard Claesen - Dutch pirate d1670
Spriggs, Francis Farrington - English pirate 1721-1725
Stedman, Capt - English buccaneer 1666
Swan, Charles - English pirate d1687
Teach, Edward (Blackbeard)- English pirate d1718
Tristian, Capt - French pirate 1681-1682
Vane, Charles - British pirate d1719 While in Nassau in 1718, he boldly faced and defied two British men of wars. His crew voted him out of office later on because he refused to engage a large French warship. He was replaced by John Rackam
Van Horn, Nicholas - Dutch buccaneer 1681-1683
Walden, John - English pirate 1699-1723
Whetstone, Thomas - English captain d1667
Wijn, Moise Van - Dutch buccaneer 1668
William - Indian buccaneer - 1680's
Williams, Maurice - English buccaneer 1664-1666
Williams, Paul - British pirate 1716-1718 From Carolina. Accepted the King's pardon at New Providence in 1718, but returned to piracy. Caught and hung at Eastman, Massechusetts.
Winter, Christopher - British pirate 1716-1717
Worley, Richard - 1718 From New York, he set out with 8 accomplices in a small open boat with few provisions and some old muskets, capturing othr ships until theysettled on a 6 gun sloop with 25 crew. He was captured by a fleet commanded by Governor Robert Johnson of South Carolina. He was hanged at Boston.
Wright, Capt - English pirate 1675-1682
Yanky, Capt - Dutch buccaneer 1681-1687. A nickname, his name was probably John Williams. He was described as greedy or tight fisted. When John Cook's ship returned from the Pacific in May 1681, they found Yanky and a bunch of other captains on the Caribbean coast. Cook joined Yanky's crew as a quartermaster and lieutenant. Sailing in company with a captain Wright along the South American coast, they captured several ships, arguing over one of the spoils, but staying together until April 1862. Shortly after they parted, Yanky captured a Spanish ship. Cook and other men demanded the ship under the usual pirate rules, but Yanky seized the ship back from them and marooned them on the Ile-a-Vache, off Haiti, where they were eventually rescued by Capt Tristian. In 1683 Jean Hamlin was devestating English shipping in the La Trompeuse. To ensure Hamlin's capture, and to cause infighting among the pirates, Jamaica's governor sent captain Coxon looking for Yanky to offer him men, food, a pardon, naturalisation and 200 pounds to seek out and capture Hamlin. Yanky spurned the offer, operating out of Saint Dominique in 1684, and was still raiding shipping in 1687. His end is unrecorded.
Yeats, Capt - British pirate 1718. Sailed from the Bahamas in 1718 with Charles Vane. When Vane captured a sloop shortly afterwards, Yeats was given command of the vessel. Together they looted 4 ships outside of Charleston, but the two men quarreled and Yeats took off. He was said to have surrendered at Charleston, where his condition of pardon was to return all his plunder.