This is a list of known pirates, buccaneers, corsairs, privateers, river pirates, and others involved in piracy and piracy-related activities. This list includes both captains and prominent crew members. For a list of female pirates, see women in piracy.
Ancient World[]
Name | Life | Years active | Country of origin | Comments |
---|---|---|---|---|
Anicetus | d. 69 | Pontus (Hellenic) | Was the leader of an unsuccessful anti-Roman uprising in Pontus in AD 69. | |
Demetrius of Pharos | d. 214 BC | Pharos (Hellenic) | His actions precipitated the Second Illyrian War. | |
Dionysius the Phocaean | 494 BC | Greece | Phocaean admiral active against Carthaginian and Tyrsenians merchants in the years following the Greco–Persian Wars. | |
Gan Ning | 175–218 | 190–197 | China | His party carried bells as their trademark causing the commoners to be afraid when they heard the bells. |
Genthus of Illyria | First century BC | Illyria | Was accused by the Romans of organizing and aiding pirate raids in Italy. | |
Glauketas | 315–300 BC | Greek inscriptions of the Athenian navy raiding his base on Kynthnos Island and capturing he and his men "making the sea safe for those that sailed thereon." | ||
Sextus Pompeius | d. 35 BC | Rome | He was the last focus of opposition to the Second Triumvirate. |
Middle Ages[]
Name | Life | Years Active | Country of origin | Comments |
---|---|---|---|---|
Giorgio Adorno | d. 1558 | Malta | Knight of Malta active in the Mediterranean. Originally from Naples, he was elected "Captain-General of the Galleys" in 1547, 1549, 1557 and 1558. | |
James Alday | 1516–1576 | 1540s | England | An English privateer. Raided Spanish ports with James Logan and William Cooke. |
William Aleyn | fl. 1448 | 1432-1448 | England | English pirate active in the Thames and English Channel. Associate of William Kyd. |
Richard Allen | d. 1572 | England | ||
Jean Ango | 1480–1551 | France | A French ship-owner who provided ships to Francis I for exploration of the globe. | |
Aruj | 1474–1518 | 1503–1518 | Ottoman Empire | An Ottoman privateer and Bey (Governor) of Algiers and Beylerbey (Chief Governor) of the West Mediterranean. |
Awilda | 5th century | Scandinavia | She and some of her female friends dressed like sailors and commandeered a ship. | |
Hayreddin Barbarossa | 1478–1546 | 1504–1545 | Ottoman Empire | An Ottoman privateer and later Admiral who dominated the Mediterranean for decades. |
Baldassare Cossa (Antipope John XXIII) | 1370–1415 | Procida | Antipope during the Western Schism, John XXIII was accused of—among other crimes—piracy, incest and sodomy. | |
Pier Gerlofs Donia | 1480–1520 | Germany (Frisia) | a Frisian warrior, pirate, freedom fighter, folk hero and rebel. | |
Eric of Pomerania | 1382–1459 | Germany (Pomerania) | The first king of the Nordic Kalmar Union, he spent his last years living on the island of Gothland and "sent forth piratical expeditions against friend and foe alike". | |
Eustace the Monk | c. 1170–1217 | France | He was a mercenary for both England and France. | |
Alv Erlingsson | d. 1290 | Norway | He was a favorite of the Queen, yet committed countless acts of piracy throughout his life | |
Jean Fleury (Florin) | fl. 1523 | 1520s | France | French privateer and naval officer under Jean Ango. Seized three Spanish ships carrying Aztec treasure from Mexico to Spain in 1523. |
Magnus Heinason | 1545–1589 | Faroe Islands | Faroese naval hero and privateer. Was executed for piracy, though charges were later dropped. | |
Klein Henszlein | d. 1573 | to 1573 | Germany | A 16th century pirate who raided shipping in the North Sea until his defeat and capture by a fleet from Hamburg |
Wijerd Jelckama | 1490–1523 | Germany (Frisia) | The nephew of Pier Gerlofs Donia (also known as Grutte Pier), fought along his side against the Saxon and Hollandic invaders. | |
William Kyd | fl. 1430–1453 | 1430s–1450s | England | English pirate active in Southwest England during the early-to-mid-15th century. |
Gödeke Michels | d. 1402 | to 1402 | Germany | A German pirate and one of the leaders of the Likedeeler, a combination of former Vitalienbrüder |
Didrik Pining | c. 1430–1491 | Denmark-Norway | A pirate and privateer operating in the North Sea. Often partnered with Hans Pothorst. | |
Hans Pothorst | c.1440–1490 | Denmark-Norway | A pirate and privateer operating in the North Sea. Often partnered with Didrik Pining. | |
Salih Reis | 1488–1568 | Ottoman Empire | A Turkish privateer and Ottoman admiral. | |
Turgut Reis | 1485–1565 | Ottoman Empire | A Turkish privateer and Ottoman admiral as well as Bey of Algiers; Beylerbey of the Mediterranean; and first Bey later Pasha of Tripoli. | |
Klaus Störtebeker | 1360–1401 | Germany | He was a leader of the Victual Brothers. | |
Kristoffer Trondson (Rustung) | c.1500–1565 | c.1535–1542 | Norway | A Norwegian nobleman-turned pirate and privateer. Operated in the North Sea and the Baltic Sea. Gave up piracy in 1542 and eventually became admiral of the Danish Fleet. |
Hennig Wichmann | 1370–1402 | 149?–1402 | Germany (Frisia) | One of the leaders of the Likedeeler, an association of former Victual Brothers. |
Cord Widderich | d. 1447 | 1404–1447 | Germany | A pirate active during political conflicts between Dithmarschen and North Frisia in the early 15th century. |
Magister Wigbold | 1365–1402 | 1392–1402 | Germany | Often described as the brains behind the Victual Brothers. |
Wimund | b. 1147 | England | He was a bishop who became a seafaring warlord adventurer. | |
John Crabbe | 1305-1332 | Flanders | Flemish pirate best known for his successful use of a ship-mounted catapult. Once won the favor of Robert the Bruce and acted as a Naval Officer for England during the Hundred Years' War (after being captured by King Edward III.) |
Rise of the English Sea Dogs and Dutch Corsairs: 1560–1650[]
Name | Life | Years Active | Country of origin | Comments |
---|---|---|---|---|
Nicholas Alvel | early 17th century | 1603 | England | Active in the Ionian Sea. |
Pedro Menéndez de Avilés | 1519–1574 | 1565 | Spanish | A Spanish Admiral and pirate hunter, de Aviles is remembered for his destruction of the French settlement of Fort Caroline in 1565. |
Samuel Axe | early 17th century | 1629–1645 | England | An English privateer in Dutch service, Axe served with English forces in the Dutch Revolt against Habsburg rule. |
Sir Andrew Barton | 1466–1511 | to 1511 | Scotland | Served under a Scottish letter of marque, but was described a pirate by English and Portuguese. |
Abraham Blauvelt | d. 1663 | 1640–1663 | Netherlands | One of the last Dutch corsairs of the mid-17th century, Blauvelt mapped much of South America. |
Nathaniel Butler | b. 1578 | 1639 | England | Despite a comparatively unsuccessful career as a privateer, Butler was later colonial governor of Bermuda. |
Jan de Bouff | early 17th century | 1602 | Netherlands | de Bouff served as a Dunkirker in Habsburg service during the Dutch Revolt. |
John Callis (Calles) | c. 1558–1587? | c. 1574–1587 | England | Welsh pirate active along the southern coast of Wales. |
Hendrik (Enrique) Brower | 1581–1643 | 1600, 1643 |
Netherlands | Brouwer was a privateer who fought the Habsburgs during the Dutch revolt, holding the city of Castro, Chile hostage for a period of two months. |
Thomas Cavendish | 1560–1592 | 1587–1592 | England | The first man to intentionally circumnavigate the globe, Cavendish also raided numerous Spanish towns and ships in the New World. |
Shirahama Kenki | 16th-early 17th centuries | Japan | Japanese pirate and one of the first Japanese with whom the southern Vietnamese kingdom of the Nguyễn Lords made contact. | |
Matsuura Takanobu | 1529–1599 | Japan | One of the most powerful feudal lords of Kyūshū and one of the first lords to allow trading with Europeans | |
Peter Love | d.1610 | England | An English pirate who set up base in the Outer Hebrides and was active around Ireland and Scotland. He was betrayed by the outlaw Neil MacLeod and executed in 1610. | |
Zheng Zhilong (Cheng Chih Lung) | 1604–1662 | 1623–1645 | China | A convert to Christianity, Zhilon collaborated with Dutch forces, helping to create a monopoly on trade with Japan. |
Zheng Jing (Cheng Chin) | 1643–1682 | 1662–1682 | China | Chinese pirate and warlord. The eldest son of Koxinga and grandson of Zheng Zhilong, he succeeded his father as ruler of Tainan and briefly occupied Fukien. |
Wang Zhi | 16th century | 1551–1555 | China | One of the chief figures amongst the wokou of the 16th century. |
Francois le Clerc (Jambe de Bois) | 16th century | 1550s–1560s | France | Known for his sacking of Santiago de Cuba in 1554 |
Jacob Collaart | 17th century | 1625–1635 | Netherlands | A Flemish admiral who served as privateer and one of the Dunkirkers in Spanish Habsburg service during the Dutch Revolt, responsible for the destruction of at least 150 fishing boats. |
Claes Compaan | 1587–1660 | 1621–1627 | Netherlands | Former Dutch corsair and privateer, he later became a pirate and was successful in capturing hundreds of ships in Europe, the Barbary coast and West Africa. |
Baltazar de Cordes | d.1601? | 1598–1601 | Netherlands | A Dutch corsair who fought against the Spanish during the early 17th Century. |
Simon (Zyman) the Dancer | fl. 1606–1609 | 1600s | Netherlands | One of the leading Barbary corsairs, was based in Algiers and Tunis during the early 17th century. |
Simon Danziker | d. 1611 | 1600s–1610s | Netherlands | Dutch corsair and privateer who later became a Barbary corsair. He and John Ward dominated the Western Mediterranean during the early 17th century. |
De Veenboer | d. 1620 | 1600s–1610s | Netherlands | Former Dutch corsair and privateer. Later became a Barbary corsair under Simon the Dancer and eventually commanded the Algiers corsair fleet. |
Uluj Ali (Giovanni Dionigi) | 1519–1587 | 1536–1550 | Turkey | An Italian-born Muslim corsair, who later became an Ottoman admiral and Chief Admiral (Kaptan-ı Derya) of the Ottoman Fleet in the 16th century. |
Sir Francis Drake | 1540–1596 | 1563–1596 | England | Known as "el Draque" (the Dragon), he was considered a hero in England, but little more than a pirate in Spain. |
Peter Easton | 1570–1619 | 1602 | England | A privateer, then pirate, who was able to retire in Villefranche, Savoy with an estimated worth of two million pounds. |
Jan Janszoon | 1570–after 1641 | Holland | Turkish service of the 'fleet from Salé' | |
Daniel Elfrith | 1607–1640 | England | English privateer and slave trader in the West Indies. | |
Jan Evertsen | 1630s | Netherlands | Dutch admiral and corsair. | |
Juan Garcia | fl. 1622 | 1620s | Spain | One of the Spanish privateers who accompanied Jan Jacobsen on his last voyage in 1622. |
Sir Michael Geare | c. 1565–? | c. 1584–1603 | England | Elizabethan Sea Dog active in the West Indies up until the turn of the 17th century. |
Sir John Hawkins | 1532–1595 | 1554, 1564, 1567 | England | A some-time pirate, his work in ship design was important during the threat of invasion from the Spanish Armada. |
Piet Hein | 1577–1629 | 1628 | Netherlands | After serving as a Spanish galley slave for four years, Hein later captured 11,509,524 guilders of cargo from the Spanish treasure fleet. |
Pieter Adriaanszoon Ita | fl. 1628–1630 | 1620s | Netherlands | Dutch corsair and privateer. Commanded one of the earliest and largest expeditions against the Portugal and Spain in the Caribbean during 1628. |
Jan Jacobsen | d. 1622 | 1610s–1620s | Netherlands | Flemish-born privateer in English service during the Eighty Years' War. |
Willem Jacobszoon | fl. 1624–1625 | 1620s | Netherlands | Dutch corsair who accompanied Pieter Schouten on one of the first major expeditions to the West Indies. |
Jan Janz (Murad Rais) | c. 1570–c. 1641 | 1590s–1640s | Netherlands | Dutch privateer taken captive by Barbary corsairs and later became one himself. |
Willem Jansen | fl. 1600 | 1600s | Netherlands | Dutch corsair based in Duinkerken and one time officer under Jacques Colaert. |
Cornelius Jol | 1597–1641 | 1630s–1640s | Netherlands | Dutch corsair successful against the Spanish in the West Indies. One of the first to use a wooden peg leg. |
Sir James Lancaster | 1554–1618 | 1591–1603 | England | Elizabethan Sea Dog active in India during the late 16th century. Later a chief director for the East India Company. |
Guillaume Le Testu | 1509–1573 | 1560s–1570s | France | French privateer, explorer and cartographer. First navigator to chart Australia in 1531. |
Hendrick Jacobszoon Lucifer | 1583–1627 | 1627 | Netherlands | Hendrick captured 1.2 million guilders from a Honduran treasure fleet, but was mortally wounded in the process. |
Sir Henry Mainwaring | 1587–1653 | 1610–1616 | England | English privateer and pirate hunter. His pirate fleet nearly broke the truce between England and Spain following the Anglo-Spanish War. |
Olivier van Noort | 1558–1627 | 1598–1601 | Netherlands | Despite his venture being of limited success, it was the inspiration that led to the formation of the Dutch East India Company. |
John Nutt | 1620–1623 | England | An English pirate active in Newfoundland. | |
Gráinne O'Malley (Gráinne Ní Mháille) | 1530–1603 | 1560s–1600s | Ireland | An important figure in Irish legend who is still present in popular culture today. |
John Oxenham | 1536–1580 | 1570s–1600s | England | Elizabethan Sea Dog and associate of Sir Frances Drake during the early years of the Anglo-Spanish War. First English privateer to enter the Pacific though Panama. |
William Parker | d. 1617 | 1590s–1600s | England | Elizabethan Sea Dog active in the West Indies. Successfully attacked Porto Bello in 1602 without firing a shot. |
Pedro de la Plesa | fl. 1622 | 1620s | Spanish | He and Juan Garcia who joined Jan Jacobsen on his final voyage in 1622. |
Murat Reis the Elder | 1506–1608 | 1534–1608 | Rhodes | A Turkish privateer and Ottoman admiral who took part in all of the early naval campaigns of Turgut Reis. |
Assan Reis (Jan Marinus van Sommelsdijk) | fl. 1626 | 1620s | Netherlands | Former Dutch privateer turned Barbary corsair. He attacked the Dutch ship St. Jan Babtista under Jacob Jacobsen of Ilpendam on March 7, 1626. |
James Riskinner (Reiskimmer) | 17th century | 1630s | England | A lieutenant on the ship Warwick, then part of a fleet under the command of Nathaniel Butler, he later took part in a privateering expedition between May–September 1639. |
Isaac Rochussen | 1631–1710 | 1660s–1670s | Netherlands | A Dutch corsair active against the English during the Second and Third Anglo-Dutch War. His capture of The Falcon, an East India merchantman, was one of the most valuable prizes captured during the late-17th century. |
Mahieu Romboutsen | fl. 1636 | 1630s | Netherlands | Dutch corsair in the service of Spain. Was part of a three ship squadron under Jacques Colaert and was captured with him after a five hour battle with Jan Evertsen. |
William Rous | fl. 1636–1645 | 1630s–1640s | Netherlands | Dutch corsair and privateer based on Providence Island. He was involved in privateering expeditions for the Providence Island Company and later commander of Fort Henry. |
Jan van Ryen | d. 1627 | 1620s | Netherlands | Dutch corsair active in the West Indies. Reportedly killed with a number of colonists attempting to establish one of the first colonies on the Wiapoco in Dutch Guiana. |
Pieter Schouten | fl. 1624–1625 | 1620s | Netherlands | Dutch corsair who led one of the Dutch expeditions to the West Indies. |
Jacques de Sores | 16th century | 1555 | France | A French pirate whose sole documented act was his attack and burning of Havana in 1555. |
Dirck Simonszoon van Uitgeest | fl. 1628–1629 | 1620s | Netherlands | Dutch corsair who commanded a WIC expedition to Brazil bringing back over 12 Portuguese and Spanish prizes. |
Sir Francis Verney | 1584–1615 | 1608–1610 | England | English nobleman who left behind his inheritance to become a Barbary corsair. |
Johannes van Walbeeck | fl. 1634 | 1620s–1630s | Netherlands | Dutch admiral and corsair. Captured Curaçao in 1634 and later served as governor. |
John Ward | 1552–1622 | 1603–1610s | England | A notorious English pirate around the turn of the 17th century who later became a Barbary Corsair operating out of Tunis during the early 1600s. |
Cornelis Wittebol | fl. 1622 | 1620s | Netherlands | Dutch corsair in Spanish service. In February 1622, attacked a fishing fleet from the Veere and Maasmond sinking several ships and bringing back the survivors to ransom in Duinkerken. |
Jacob Willekens | 1571–1633 | 1590s–1630s | Netherlands | Dutch admiral who led Dutch corsairs on the first major privateering expedition to the West Indies. |
Hendrik Worst | fl. 1624 | 1620s | Netherlands | Dutch corsair who accompanied Pieter Schouten in his expedition to the West Indies. |
Filips van Zuylen | fl. 1624 | 1620s | Netherlands | Dutch corsair active against the Portuguese in West Africa. |
Moses Cohen Henriques | early 17th century | 1620s and 1630s | Netherlands | Dutch pirate of Portuguese Sephardic Jewish origin active in the Caribbean against Spain and Brazil against Portugal |
Age of the Buccaneers: 1650–1690[]
Name | Life | Years Active | Country of origin | Comments |
---|---|---|---|---|
Vincenzo Alessandri | d. 1657 | Italy | Originally a Knight of Malta, Alessandri was captured and enslaved. | |
Michiel Andrieszoon | 17th century | 1680s | Netherlands | Dutch merchant-pirate. Associated with Thomas Paine and Laurens de Graff. |
John Ansell | d. 1689 | England | Sailed with Henry Morgan and participated in his raids against Maracaibo and Gibraltar, Venezuela. | |
Captain Archembeau (Archembo) | d. 1681 | 1670s–1680s | France | French buccaneer active in the Caribbean. |
Jean Bart | 1651–1702 | 1672–1697 | France | Born the son of a fisherman, Bart retired an Admiral in French service. |
Philippe Bequel | 17th century | 1650–1669 | France | Was one of the first foreign privateers awarded a letter of marque by the governor of Jamaica |
Jacob Janssen van den Bergh | fl. 1660 | 1650s–1660s | Netherlands | Dutch corsair and slave trader for the Dutch West India Company. |
Lancelot Blackburne | 1653–1743 | 1680–1684 | England | Blackburne was an English clergyman, who became Archbishop of York, and – in popular belief – a pirate. |
Eduardo Blomar | d. 1679 | 1670s | Spain | Spanish renegade active in the Spanish Main during the 1670s. Tried in absentia and convicted of piracy with Bartolomé Charpes and Juan Guartem in Panama in 1679. |
Pierre Bot | 17th century | 1680s | France | French buccaneer active in the Caribbean. |
Manuel Butiens | fl. 1645 | 1640s | Netherlands | Dutch renegade and Dunkirker in the service of Spain. |
Bartolomé Charpes | d. 1679 | 1680s | Spain | Spanish renegade who was tried in absentia and convicted of piracy with Edwardo Blomar and Juan Guartem in Panama by Governor Don Dionicio Alceda in 1679. |
Edward Collier | 17th century | 1668–1671 | England | Served as Sir Henry Morgan's second-in-command throughout much of his expeditions against Spain during the mid-17th century. |
John Cooke (Cook) | d. 1683 | 1680s | England | English buccaneer who led an expedition against the Spanish in the early 1680s. |
John Coxon | d. 1689 | 1677–1682 | England | One of the most famous of the Brethren of the Coast, a loose consortium of pirates and privateers who were active on the Spanish Main. |
William Dampier | 1651–1715 | 1670–1688 | England | Was the first person to circumnavigate the world three times. |
Edward Davis | 17th century | 1680–1688 | England | Led the last major buccaneer raid against Panama. |
John Davis (Robert Searle) | 17th century | England | Davis was one of the earliest and most active buccaneers on Jamaica. | |
Jacquotte Delahaye | 17th century | 1660s | France | Delahaye was a French Buccaneer, and together with Anne Dieu-Le-Veut was one of very few female buccaneers. |
Anne Dieu-Le-Veut | b. 1650 | 1650–1704 | France | Was originally one of the women – "Filles de Roi" – sent by the French government to Tortuga to become wives to the local male colonists. |
Charlotte de Berry | 17th century | 1660s | England | A female pirate, she later commanded her own ship. |
Cornelius Essex | d. 1680 | 1670s | England | An English buccaneer who took part in Captain Bartholomew Sharp's privateering expedition, the "Pacific Adventure", during the late 1670s. |
Laurens de Graaf | 1653–1704 | 1672–1697 | Netherlands | Characterised as "a great and mischievous pirate" by Henry Morgan, de Graaf was a Dutch pirate, mercenary, and naval officer in the service of the French colony of Saint-Domingue. |
Michel de Grammont | 1645–1686 | 1670–1686 | France | A French buccaneer, de Grammont primarily attacked Spanish holdings in Venezuela. |
Jean du Casse | 1646–1715 | 168?–1697 | France | Born to Huguenot parents, du Casse was allowed to join the French navy on the value of his prizes taken while a buccaneer. |
Alexandre Exquemelin | 1645–1707 | 1669–1674 1697 |
France | A French writer, most known as the author of one of the most important sourcebooks of 17th century piracy, De Americaensche Zee-Roovers. |
Jean Foccard | 17th century | 1680s | France | Associate of Laurens de Graaf and Michel de Grammont. He later joined them in their attack on Tampico in 1682. |
"Red Legs" Greaves | 17th Century | Scotland/Ireland | Greaves's nickname was based on a commonly used term for reddened legs often seen among the Scottish and Irish who took to wearing kilts in almost any weather. | |
Juan Guartem | 17th century | 1670s | Spain | A Spanish renegade pirate who raided Spanish settlements in New Spain during the late 17th century with his most notable raid being against Chepo in 1679. |
Peter Harris | d. 1680 | 1670s | England | English buccaneer and member of Captain Bartholomew Sharp's "Pacific Expedition". Killed at Panama in 1680. |
Jean Hamlin (Hamilton) | 17th century | 1680s | Anglo-French | French buccaneer active in the Caribbean. Later hunted down by Captain John Coxon. |
Richard Hawkins | 1562–1622 | 1593–1594 | England | A buccaneer and explorer who was later knighted. |
George Hout (d'Hout) | fl. 1687 | 1680s | England | English buccaneer who joined Francois Grogniet and Pierre le Picard in their raid on Guayaquil in 1687. |
François l'Olonnais | 17th century | c. 1635–c. 1668 | France | French pirate active in the Caribbean during the 1660s. He may have been cannabalized by the natives of Darién Province |
William Jackson | 17th century | 1639–1645 | England | It was the fleet under his command that captured Jamaica for England. |
Bartholomeus de Jager | fl. 1655 | 1650s | Netherlands | Dutch corsair active against the Portuguese. He attacked a small merchant fleet at Fernando Noronha capturing one merchant ship and driving off the other. |
Daniel Johnson | 1629–1675 | 1657–1675 | England | Became known as "Johnson the Terror" amongst the Spanish. |
William Knight | 17th century | 1684–1686 | England | Along with Edward Davis, he took part in the final large buccaneer attack on Spanish holdings. |
Pierre Le Grand | 17th century | France | Known only for a single attack against a Spanish galleon, his existence is disputed. | |
Raveneau de Lussan | b. 1663 | 1684–1688 | France | An impoverished nobleman. Attacked targets in Central America. Known for a “long march” in 1688. |
Thomas Magott (Mackett) | 17th century | 1680s | England | English buccaneer who sailed with Bartholomew Sharp and others on the "Pacific Adventure". |
Edward Mansvelt (Mansfield) | d. 1666 | 1650s–1660s | Curaçao | Dutch buccaneer in English service. Known as the Admiral of the "Brethren of the Coast", Mansvelt was a mentor to Sir Henry Morgan who succeeded him following his death. |
Marquis de Maintenon | 1648–1691 | 1672–1676 | France | A French nobleman who became a buccaneer in the Caribbean, selling his castle and title to Madame de Maintenon |
David Marteen | 17th century | 1663–1665 | Netherlands | Known primarily as the sole non-English Captain who participated in the raids against Spanish strongholds in present-day Mexico and Nicaragua. |
Daniel Montbars (Exterminator) | 1645–1701? | 1660s–1670s | France | A former French naval officer and gentleman adventurer, he engaged in a violent and destructive war against Spain in the Caribbean and the Spanish Main. His hatred of the Spanish earned him the name "Montbars the Exterminator". |
Sir Henry Morgan | 1635–1688 | 1663–1674 | Wales | A privateer (and pirate) who later retired to become Lieutenant Governor of Jamaica. |
John Morris | 17th century | 1663–1672 | England | A skilled pilot, he served with both Christopher Myngs and Henry Morgan before becoming a pirate hunter. |
Sir Christopher Myngs | 1625–1666 | 1650s–1660s | England | Described as "unhinged and out of tune" by the governor of Jamaica, Myngs nevertheless became a Vice-Admiral of the Blue in the Royal Navy. |
François l'Ollonais (Jean-David Nau) | 1635–1668 | 1660–1668 | France | Nicknamed "Flail of the Spaniards", l'Ollonais had a reputation for brutality, offering no quarter to Spanish prisoners. |
Pierre Le Picard | fl. 1666–1690 | 1660s–1690s | France | An officer under l'Ollonais, he and Moise Vauquelin left to pursue a career on their own. He later served in King William's War. |
Chevalier du Plessis | d. 1668 | 1660s | France | French privateer active in the West Indies. He was succeeded by Moise Vauquelin following his death. |
Baron Jean de Pointis | 1635–1707 | 1690s | France | His greatest venture was the 1697 Raid of Cartagena. |
Thomas Pound | d. 1703 | 1689 | England | Briefly commanded a small ship near Massachusetts before being captured. |
Bartolomeu Português | b. 1630 | 1666–1669 | Portugal | One of the earliest pirates to use a pirate code. |
Lawrence Prince | fl. 1659–1672 | 1650s–1670s | Netherlands | Dutch buccaneer in English service. An officer under Sir Henry Morgan, he and John Morris led the vanguard at Panama in 1671. |
Roche Braziliano | 17th century | 1654–1671 | Netherlands | Roasted two Spanish farmers alive when they refused to hand over their pigs. |
Philip Ras | fl. 1652–1655 | 1650s | Netherlands | Captured several English ships as both a corsair and privateer during the First Anglo-Dutch War. |
Thomas Paine | 17th century | 1680s | England | A colonial American privateer who raided several settlements in the West Indies with Jan Willems, most notably against Rio de la Hacha in 1680. He also drove the French from Block Island. |
Manuel Ribeiro Pardal | d. 1671 | 1668–1671 | Portugal | Portuguese privateer in the service of Spain. One of the few successful privateers active against the buccaneers of the Caribbean during the late 17th century. |
Stenka Razin | 1630–1671 | Russia | A Cossack pirate who operated on the Volga and later expanded into the Caspian Sea. | |
Richard Sawkins | d. 1680 | 1679–1680 | England | Participated, along with John Coxon and Bartholomew Sharp, in the surprise attack on Santa Marta |
Lewis Scot | fl. 1663 | 1660s | England | Known for his attack on the city of Campeche, on the Yucatan Peninsula. |
Bartholomew Sharp | 1650–1690 | 1679–1682 | England | Plundered 25 Spanish ships and numerous small towns. |
Gustav Skytte | 1637–1663 | 1657–1663 | Sweden | Attacked ships in the Baltic Sea, along with other accomplices of noble descent. |
Bernard Claesen Speirdyke | fl. 1663–1670 | 1660s–1670s | Netherlands | Dutch buccaneer active in the Caribbean, he was captured by Captain Manuel Ribeiro Pardal near Cuba and later executed. |
Charles Swan | 17th century | England | A reluctant pirate, he begged for a pirate even as he looted his way around South America. | |
Jacques Tavernier (Le Lyonnais) | 1625–1673 | 1664–1673 | France | French buccaneer who took part in expeditions with Laurens de Graaf, Michel de Grammont, Pierre Le Grand, François l'Ollonais and Sir Henry Morgan before his execution in 1673. His existence is disputed as the only pre-20th century reference to him appears in Appleton's Cyclopedia of American Biography. |
Nicholas (Nikolaas) van Hoorn | 1635–1683 | 1663–1683 | Netherlands | Merchant, privateer and later pirate, van Hoorn was hugely successful before dying of wound infection. |
Cornelis Janszoon van de Velde | fl. 1655 | 1650s | Netherlands | Dutch corsair active near the Antillen, he was briefly associated with Bartholomeus de Jager. |
Moise Vauquelin (Moses Vanclein) | fl. 1650–1672 | 1650s–1670s | France | An officer under l'Ollonais, he also had a partnership with Pierre le Picard. In his later years, he wrote a book detailing the coastline of Honduras and the Yucatan along with fellow buccaneer Philippe Bequel. |
Lionel Wafer | 1640–1705 | 1679–1688 | Wales | An explorer whose work helped inspire the Darien Scheme. |
Yankey (Janke) Willems | fl. 1681–1687 | 1680s | Netherlands | Dutch buccaneer active in the Caribbean. |
William Wright | 17th century | 1675–1682 | England | Despite being English, Wright was active as a privateer under a French commission. He later became a buccaneer. |
Golden Age of Piracy: 1690–1730[]
Name | Life | Years Active | Country of origin | Comments |
---|---|---|---|---|
Thomas Anstis | d. 1723 | 1718–1723 | England | Was mainly active in the Caribbean, and served under first Howell Davis and later Bartholomew Roberts. |
Adam Baldridge | ? | fl. c. 1685–1697 | England | English pirate and one of the early founders of the pirate settlements in Madagascar. |
Bartholomew Roberts (Black Bart) | 1682–1722 | 1719–1722 | Wales | The most successful pirate of the Golden Age of Piracy, estimated to have captured more than 470 vessels. |
George Booth | d. 1700 | 1696–1700 | England | One of the earliest pirates active in the Indian Ocean and Red Sea. |
John Bowen | d. 1704 | 1700–1704 | Bermuda | Was active in the Indian Ocean, his contemporaries included George Booth and Nathaniel North. |
Samuel Bellamy (Black Sam) | 1689–1717 | 1716–1717 | England | Despite having a career of less than year, Bellamy was extraordinarily successful, capturing more than 50 ships before his death at age 28. |
Blackbeard (Edward Teach) | 1680–1718 | 1716–1718 | England | With his fearsome appearance, Blackbeard is often credited with the creation of the stereotypical image of a pirate. |
Black Caesar | d. 1718 | 1700s–1718 | Africa | A captured slave turned pirate, Black Caesar was a well-known pirate active off the Florida Keys during the early 18th century. He later acted as a lieutenant to Blackbeard and was one of five Africans serving on his flagship. |
Stede Bonnet | 1688–1718 | 1717–1718 | Barbados | Nicknamed "The Gentleman Pirate", Bonnet was born into a wealthy family before turning to piracy. |
Rahmah ibn Jabir al-Jalahimah | 1760–1826 | 1780–1826 | Kuwait | The most famous pirate in the Persian Gulf, he was appointed as a ruler of Dammam and went into a piracy against Al-Khalifa in Bahrain. |
Anne Bonny | 1698–1782 | to 1725 | Ireland | Despite never commanding a ship herself, Anne Bonny is remembered as one of few female historical pirates. |
Nicholas Brown | d. 1726 | to 1726 | England | Active off the coast of Jamaica, Brown was eventually killed – and his head pickled – by childhood friend John Drudge. |
Sir Christopher Chapman | 1774 | to 1777 | England | Active off coast of Florida and Jamaica. Captain of the Shawn Towne started as a privateer but turned to piracy. Executed in London in a public flogging after sieging the HMS Mugavero.Template:Fact |
Dirk Chivers | early 18th century | 1694–1699 | Netherlands | Active in the Red Sea and Indian Ocean, Chivers later retired from piracy and returned to the Netherlands. |
Thomas Cocklyn | early 18th century | 1717 to death | England | Primarily known for his association with Howell Davis and Oliver La Buze, Cocklyn's activities after 1719 are unknown. |
Christopher Condent | d. 1770 | 1718–1720 | England | After entering into piracy in 1718, Condent later took a prize of £150,000 and retired to France, becoming a wealthy merchant. |
William Condon | d. 1721 | to 1721 | England | Captaining the Fiery Dragon, Condon was killed when she caught fire and sank. |
Robert Culliford | early 18th century | 1690–1698 | England | The former first mate of William Kidd, Culliford led a first mutiny against Kidd, stealing his ship Blessed William. |
Alexander Dalzeel | 1662–1715 | 1685–1715 | Scotland | Served under Henry Every. Was captured four times before finally being hanged. |
Howell Davis | 1690–1719 | 1718–1719 | Wales | Having a career that lasted only 11 months, Davis was ambushed during an attempt to kidnap the governor of Príncipe. |
Edward England | 1690–1720 | 1717–1720 | Ireland | Differing from many other pirates of his day, England did not kill captives unless necessary. |
John Evans | d. 1723 | 1722–1723 | Wales | After an unsuccessful career as a legitimate sailor, Evans turned to piracy – initially raiding houses from a small canoe. |
Henry Every (Avery) | b. 1653 | 1695–1696 | England | Famous as one of the few pirates of the era who was able to retire with his takings without being either arrested or killed in battle. |
John Fenn | d. 1723 | to 1723 | England | Sailed with Bartholomew Roberts and, later, Thomas Anstis. |
William Fly | d. 1726 | to 1726 | England | Raided off the New England coast before being captured and hanged at Boston, Massachusetts. |
Ingela Gathenhielm | 1692–1729 | 1718–1721 | Sweden | Widow of Lars Gathenhielm, active on the Baltic Sea. |
Lars Gathenhielm | 1689–1718 | 1710–1718 | Sweden | Active on the Baltic Sea |
Charles Harris | d. 1723 | to 1723 | England | Joining the Barbary corsairs, Harris converted to Islam before being captured and later hanged. |
John Halsey | d. 1708 | 1705–1708 | Colonial America | Active in the Atlantic and Indian oceans, Halsey is remembered by Defoe as "brave in his Person, courteous to all his Prisoners, lived beloved, and died regretted by his own People." |
Miguel Henríquez | b. 1680 | early 18th century | Spain / Puerto Rico | Although born a shoemaker, Henríquez was later awarded a letter of marque by Spain for his actions against the British. |
Benjamin Hornigold | d. 1719 | 1717–1719 | England | Known for being less aggressive than other pirates, Hornigold once captured a ship for the sole purpose of seizing the crew's hats. |
Thomas Howard | early 18th century | 1698–1703 | England | Howard served under both George Booth and John Bowen and later commanded the Prosperous. |
"Calico Jack" John Rackham | 1682–1720 | to 1720 | England | Earned his nickname for the colourful calico clothes that he wore. |
Henry Jennings | d. 1745 | 1715 | England | Although later governor of the pirate haven of New Providence, Jennings only carried out two pirate acts – gaining an estimated 410,000 pesos. |
John Julian | d. 1733 | 1716–1717 | Miskito origins | Recorded as the first black pirate to operate in the New World. |
James Kelly (James Gilliam) | d. 1701 | to 1699 | England | Active in the Indian Ocean, Kelly was a long-time associate of William Kidd. |
William "Captain" Kidd | 1645–1701 | 1695–1699 | Scotland | Although modern historians dispute the legitimacy of his trial and execution, the rumor of Captain Kidd's buried treasure has served only to build a legend around the man as a great pirate. His property was claimed by the crown and given to the Royal Hospital, Greenwich, by Queen Anne. |
Olivier Levasseur (Oliver La Buse) | 1680–1730 | 1716–1730 | France | Nicknamed "la Buse" (the Buzzard) for the speed with which he attacked his targets, Levasseur left behind a cryptic message that has yet to be deciphered fully today. |
Edward "Ned" Low | 1690–1724 | 1721–1724 | England | A pirate known for his vicious tortures, his methods were described as having "done credit to the ingenuity of the Spanish Inquisition in its darkest days". |
George Lowther | d. 1723 | to 1723 | England | Active in the Caribbean and the Atlantic, one of Lowther's lieutenants included Edward Low. |
Christopher Moody | d. 1718 | 1713–1718 | England | Active off North and South Carolina, Moody offered no quarter to captured crews, signified by his flying of a red standard. |
Nathaniel North | b. 1672 | 1689–1704 1707–1709 |
Bermuda | Active in the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, North served with other famous contemporaries, including John Bowen and George Booth. |
William Phillips | d. 1724 | England | Phillips had his leg amputated by a John Phillips after being shot. | |
James Plantain | early 18th century | Denmark | Plantain ruled the island of Madagascar between 1725 and 1728, primarily through fear, and was known as the "King of Ranter Bay". | |
John Quelch | 1666–1704 | 1703–1704 | England | Quelch was the first person tried for piracy outside England under Admiralty Law and therefore without a jury. |
Mary Read | 1690–1721 | to 1720 | England | Along with Anne Bonny, one of few female historical pirates. When captured, Read escaped hanging by claiming she was pregnant, but died soon after of a fever while still in prison. |
Woodes Rogers | 1679–1732 | 1709–1710 | England | Played a major role in the suppression of pirates in the Caribbean. |
Francis Spriggs | d. 1725 | to 1725 | England | Along with George Lowther and Edward Low, Spriggs was primarily active in the Bay of Honduras during the early 1720s. |
John Taylor | early 18th century | England | At Reunion Island, Taylor is reputed to have captured the most valuable prize in pirate history. | |
Thomas Tew | d. 1695 | 1692–1695 | England | Despite only going on two pirate voyages, Tew pioneered a route later known as the Pirate Round. |
Charles Vane | 1680–1720 | 1716–1720 | England | Disliked due to his cruelty, Vane showed little respect for the pirate code, cheating his crew out of their shares in the takings. |
Richard Worley | d. 1719 | to 1719 | England | Credited as one of the first pirates to fly the skull and crossbones pirate flag. |
Emanuel Wynn | early 18th century | France | Was the first pirate to fly the Jolly Roger. His design, however, also incorporate an hourglass below the skull. |
Pirates of North America: Pirates, Privateers, Smugglers, and River Pirates: 1730-1834[]
Name | Life | Years Active | Country of origin | Comments |
---|---|---|---|---|
Peter Alston | 1765–1804 | 1797–1804 | United States | River pirate, highwayman, and counterfeiter, alias James May, who was believed to be an associate of the Samuel Mason and Micajah "Big" Harpe and Wiley "Little" Harpe. |
Louis-Michel Aury | 1788–1821 | 1810–1821 | France | French privateer, served to the Republics of Venezuela and Mexico. |
Joseph Baker | d. 1800 | 1800 | Canada | The single piratical action of his career consisted of an unsuccessful attempt to commandeer the sloop Eliza. |
Renato Beluche | 1780–1860 | 1803–1813 | Louisiana | A known associate of the Lafitte Brothers active in the Caribbean before joining Simon Bolivar in his fight for South American independence. |
Benito Bonito | 1780–1821 | 1810–1820 | Spain | Pirate who supposedly hid his treasures of Lima in the cliffs of Australia, or in Coco Island. |
Hippolyte de Bouchard | 1780–1843 | 1817–1819 | Argentina | A French and Argentine sailor who fought for Argentina, Chile and Peru. |
Flora Burn | fl. 1741 | 1740s–1750s | England | Female pirate active mainly off the East coast of North America from 1741. |
Henri Caesar | early 19th century | 1805–1830 | Haiti | Haitian pirate active in the Caribbean during the early 18th century. |
Eric Cobham and Maria Lindsey | 1700–1760 | 1720s–1740s | England | Cobham and his wife, Maria, were primarily active in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. |
Colonel Plug (Colonel Fluger) | ?-? | to 1820 | United States | The legendary outlaw ran a gang of river pirates, in an Illinois cypress swamp, at the mouth of the Cache River and the Ohio River, was known as the "Last of the Boat-Wreckers." |
James Ford | 1770?–1833 | 1799?-1833 | United States | A civic leader and business owner in western Kentucky and southern Illinois, secretly, was the leader of a gang of river pirates and highwaymen, along the Ohio River, known as the "Ford's Ferry Gang." |
Hezekiah Frith | Early 19th century | 1790s–1800s | Bermuda | British ship owner and smuggler known as Bermuda's "gentleman privateer". Alleged to have used his business as a cover to withhold cargo sized in privateering expeditions and amass a small fortune. |
Vincent Gambi | d. 1820 | Italy | A pirate based out of New Orleans, he was an associate of Jean Lafitte. | |
José Gaspar (Gasparilla) | 1756–1821 | 1783–1821 | Spain | Though a popular figure in Florida folklore, there is no pre-20th century evidence of his existence. |
Catherine Hagerty and Charlotte Badger | early 19th century | 1806 | England | Australian convicts. Among a group of convicts taken on board a shorthanded ship as crew. The convicts commandeered the ship and sailed for New Zealand. Hagerty was put ashore and died, Badger was never seen again. |
Micajah and Wiley Harpe | 1768–1799 (Micajah) 1770–1804 (Wiley) |
1797–1799 (Micajah) 1797–1804 (Wiley) |
United States | America's first known serial killers, were Loyalists as well as river pirates and highwaymen, who preyed on travelers along the Ohio River and the waterways of Tennessee, Kentucky, and Illinois. The Harpe Brothers were associates of Samuel Mason and Peter Alston. |
Bill Johnston | 1782–1870 | 1810–1860 | United States | Nicknamed "Pirate of the Thousand Islands". |
Edward Jordan | 1771–1809 | 1794–1809 | Canada | Irish rebel, fisherman and pirate of Nova Scotia. |
Jorgen Jorgensen | 1780–1841 | 1807–1808 | Denmark | Danish adventurer and writer, he was captured by the British as a privateer during the Napoleonic Wars. |
Jean Lafitte | c. 1776–1826? | 1803–1815 1817–1820s |
France | French pirate (or privateer) active in the Gulf of Mexico during the early 1800s. A wanted fugitive by the United States, he later participated in the Battle of New Orleans on the side of the Americans. |
Pierre Lafitte | 1770–1821 | 1803–1821 | France | French pirate, and lesser-known brother of Jean Lafitte, active mainly in the Gulf of Mexico. |
Sam Hall Lord | 1778–1844 | 1800s–1840s | Barbados | Sam Lord was one of the most famous buccaneers on the island of Barbados. |
Kazimierz Lux | 1780–1846 | 1803–1819 | Poland | The Polish Pirates of the Caribbean. |
Samuel Mason | 1739–1803 | to 1803 | United States | Initially, an Revolutionary War Patriot captain in the Ohio County, Virginia militia and an associate judge and squire in Kentucky, Mason later, ran a gang of highway robbers and waterways river pirates. |
John A. Murrell | 1806?–1844 | to 1834 | United States | Near-legendary bandit, known as the "Great Western Land Pirate," ran a gang of river pirates and highwaymen along the Mississippi River. |
1760-1789 | 1781–1782 | Province of Pennsylvania | Rachel and her husband George Wall were active off the New Hampshire coast until George and the crew were washed out to sea. She was hanged in Boston on 8 October 1789. | |
Alexander White | d. 1784 | fl. 1784 | East Coast of America | Hanged for piracy in Cambridge, Massachusetts in November 1784. |
d. 1784 | fl. 1784 | East Coast of America | Hanged for piracy in Cambridge, Massachusetts in November 1784. | |
Dominique You | 1775–1830 | 1802–1814 | Haiti | Acquired a reputation for daring as a pirate. Retired to become a politician in New Orleans. |
Renegades of the Gulf Coast: 1820-1830[]
Name | Life | Years Active | Country of origin | Comments |
---|---|---|---|---|
Mansel Alcantra (Alcantara) | fl. 1829 | 1820s | Spain | In 1829, he captured the Topaz off St. Helena and had the entire crew murdered. |
Roberto Cofresí | 1791–1825 | 1818-1825 | Puerto Rico | Puerto Rico's most famous pirate, regarded by many as the Puerto Rican equivalent of Robin Hood. |
Diabolito (Little Devil) | d. 1823 | Cuba | Cuban-born pirate active in the Caribbean during the early 19th century. He was one of the first pirates to be hunted down by Commodore David Porter and the Mosquito Fleet during the early 1820s. | |
Charles Gibbs | 1798–1831 | 1816–1831 | United States | One of the last pirates active in the Caribbean, and one of the last people executed for piracy by the United States. |
"Don" Pedro Gilbert | 1800–1834 | 1832–1834 | Colombia | Took part in the last recorded incident of piracy in Atlantic waters. |
Benito de Soto | 1805–1830 | 1827–1830 | Spain | The most notorious of the last generation to attack shipping on the Atlantic Ocean. |
Piracy in the Far East: 1830-1860[]
Name | Life | Years Active | Country of origin | Comments |
---|---|---|---|---|
Tuanku Abbas | early 19th century | to 1844 | Malaysia | The brother of a rajah of Achin, known for his sponsoring and leading of pirate raids. |
Eli Boggs | 1810–1857 | 1830–1857 | United States | Pirate who sailed in Chinese junk for smuggling. |
Cheng I | d. 1807 | to 1807 | China | A pirate on the Chinese coast in the 18h and 19th centuries. |
Cheung Po Tsai | early 19th century | to 1810 | China | Active along the Guangdong coast and is said to have commanded a fleet of 600 junks. |
Ching Shih | d. 1844 | 1807–1810 | China | A prominent female pirate in late Qing China. |
Chui A-poo | d. 1851? | 1840s–1850 | China | Based in Bias Bay east of Hong Kong, Chui preyed on opium ships in the South China Sea until his fleet was destroyed by the British in 1849. |
Shap Ng-tsai | fl. 1840s | 1845–1849 | China | Commanded around 70 junks in the South China Sea before retiring and accepting a pardon from the Chinese government. |
Blackbirders and Shanghaiers, and African Slave Traders: 1860-1870[]
Name | Life | Years Active | Country of origin | Comments |
---|---|---|---|---|
Nathaniel Gordon | 1834–1862 | 1860 | United States | The first and only American slave trader to be tried, convicted, and executed "for being engaged in the Slave Trade" in accordance with the Piracy Law of 1820. |
Bully Hayes | 1829–1877 | 1850–1877 | United States | The Pirate of the South Sea, who was in a notorious blackbirder in the South Pacific, and described as "the last of the Buccaneers". |
Albert W. Hicks | 1820–1860 | 1860 | United States | New York waterfront thug who killed the 3-man crew of an oyster sloop after being shanghaied. He was the last man hung for piracy in the United States. |
Ben Pease | 1837-1870 | 1860-1870 | United States | New England sea captain turn into a pirate for blackirdering and dead in fight with Bully Hayes. |
James Kelly | 1830-1890 | 1850-1870 | United States | Only criminal for shanghaied around California and New England. |
Piracy in the 20th and 21st centuries: 1901-[]
Name | Life | Years Active | Country of origin | Comments |
---|---|---|---|---|
Boysie Singh | 1908–1957 | 1947–1956 | Trinidad | Active in the waters between Venezuela and Trinidad. Singh commonly attacked fishing boats, killing the crew and stealing the boat engine, before sinking the boat and selling the engine. |
"Roaring" Dan Seavey | 1867–1949 | 1900–1930 | United States | Active in the American Great Lakes. |
Felix von Luckner | 1881–1966 | 1916–1917 | Germany | German navy officer nobleman privateer who the epithet Der Seeteufel (the Sea-Devil) -- and his crew that of Die Piraten des Kaisers (the Emperor's Pirates) -- for his exploits in command of the sailing commerce raider SMS Seeadler (Windjammer) (Sea Eagle) in 1916–1917, during World War I. |
Peter de Neumann | 1917–1972 | 21 June 1941 | United Kingdom | Second Officer aboard the RN prize vessel Criton (captured from the Vichy French). Widely known as "The Man From Timbuctoo". |
Asad 'Booyah' Abdulahi | 1966- | 1998- | Somalia | Somali pirate boss, active in capturing ships in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean for ransoms. |
Abdul Hassan | 1969- | 2005- | Somalia | Somali pirate nicknamed "the one who never sleeps". Leader of the 350-men strong group "Central Regional Coast Guard", active in capturing ships for ransoms. |