Pirate Scandals

Pirate Scandals encompasses a range of historical events and tales involving piracy, often involving acts of violence, theft, and deception. Piracy was rife with scandals, beyond the following famous examples, including disputes over treasure, betrayals among Pirate crews, and the exploitation of vulnerable populations: 

1. Anne Bonny and Mary Read - Known as the Pirate Queens, these two women lived as pirates, disguising themselves as men and participating in daring raids. Their story is particularly notable for the scandal of their gender deception and the scandalous rumors of a possible relationship between them. Both were pregnant at the time of their arrest. Read and Bonny “pleaded their bellies” and appealed to avoid the gallows at least until giving birth. Mary Read’s story ended tragically, as she died in prison in 1721, most likely during childbirth. Anne Bonny, however, gave birth in prison and was eventually released.

2. Edward Low - This Pirate Captain was notorious for his extreme cruelty and brutality, often torturing and murdering his victims. He took a sadistic pleasure in cutting off the noses, ears and lips of his victims. During the 1720s he plundered ships on both sides of the Atlantic. He was never captured.

3. Bartholomew Roberts - Known as “Black Bart.” Roberts was one of the most successful Pirates of the Golden Age of Piracy. He took over 400 prize ships, although most were mere fishing boats. He had a love of fine clothing and jewelry. He wore a large diamond cross which was reportedly the property of the King of Portugal. He fancied drinking tea rather than rum.  After his death in battle, many of his crew were tried and sentenced to death in a large-scale trial. He is mentioned in Robert Louis Stevenson’s novel Treasure Island. 

4. Captain William Kidd - While not as brutal as some other Pirates, Kidd’s story involves a scandal of buried treasure, though much of his hoard was uncovered and used against him in court. He was known to be one of the most colorful outlaws of all time. He was hanged at Execution Dock in Wapping, England, where his body remained strung up in the gibbets for three years to serve as a warning to other would-be Pirates. 

5. Blackbeard (Edward Teach) - Perhaps the most feared Pirate. He stood 6’4” tall. Famous for his daring exploits at sea and frightening appearance, with wild-looking eyes and an explosive temper. He tucked slow-burning cannon fuses under his hat, including a long black beard lit with fuses. His head, after his brutal death at the hand of British sailors,  was coated with silver and wrapped in mystery until the artifact was eventually handed over to the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Mass. In his favor, he freed a lot of slaves during his piracy career.

6. Rule 7 - To desert the ship or their quarters in time of battle was punishable by death or marooning

7. Rule 8 - No striking one another on board, but every man’s quarrels had to be ended on shore, by either sword or pistol.

8. Bedtime Rule - 8 pm bedtime. No women allowed on board for sex. No gambling. No piracy on Sundays (the Lord’s Day - many Pirates were very religious). Any man found seducing any woman and carrying her to sea in disguise shall be sentenced to death.

The Golden Age of Piracy lasted from the 1650s to the 1730s, when maritime piracy was a significant factor in the histories of the North Atlantic and Indian Oceans.