Biographies of famous pirates

Throughout history, pirates have both plagued and terrorized virtually all countries and civilizations that have engaged in shipping and trade. This page is mainly about those that operated during the Golden Age of Piracy. Some of these pirates became quite wealthy stealing treasure and cargo sent to and from the New World. Primarily in the area of the Caribbean frequently referred to as the Spanish Main. At this time Port Royal, Jamaica had become the unofficial pirates haven. It was also during this time in history that piracy was at its most popular point, and when the most prominent figures in piracy (Blackbeard, Every, Bellamy, etc.) made names for themselves. In reading the pirate biographies below you will find that the majority of these famous pirates had very brief careers lasting just a few short years which ended in their deaths. Perhaps the really successful pirates were the ones that were able to pillage and plunder while keeping a low profile in the shadows of obscurity.... one step ahead of the authorities.

Pirate Biographies

* Captain Thomas Anstis - This notorious pirate sailed with the best of them.

* Captain Samuel Bellamy - Famous for his memorable speeches and flamboyant character.

* Blackbeard - The most infamous pirate of the golden age.

* Anne Bonny - She was by far the best known female pirate.

Joseph Bradish - He was more of a thief than a true pirate.

* Captain John Callice - This fellow seemed to have had about nine lives...

Christopher Condent - This successful fellow lived to retire in style.

John Derdrake - Alias "Jack of the Baltic".

* Captain Peter Easton - One of the most successful 17th century pirates.

* Captain Edward England - He was said to have been the model for Robert Louis Stevenson's character, Long John Silver.

* Captain John Evans - Had a brief but interesting career as a pirate.

* Captain Henry Every - By all accounts Every was the most highly renowned pirate of his time.

John Gow - His short career in piracy did little to merit the fame he achieved.

* Captain Benjamin Hornigold - Privateer turned pirate, than pirate hunter.

* Captain William Kidd - Many a story has been written about this unfortunate fellow.

* Captain George Lowther - A leader of a slave ship mutiny who turned to piracy.

* Captain Christopher Mings - A legendary pirate who inspired many a rogue to follow in his footsteps.

* Sir Henry Morgan - Pirate or patriot? You decide for yourself.

* Captain Jean-David Nau - One of the most sadistic of pirates.

* Captain Nathaniel North - An unlucky pirate who met a sad end.

* Captain Jack Rackham - He was best known for his exploits with Anne Bonny and Mary Read.

* Mary Read - Maybe not as well known as Anne Bonny but just as interesting.

* Captain Bartholomew Roberts - One of the last of the great pirates and probably the most successful pirate captain of his day.

* Captain Simon Simonson - Had a very good career in piracy on the barbary coast.

* Captain Thomas Tew - A talented pirate who cheated the gallows awaiting him at Execution Dock.

* Captain Charles Vane - He had a brief and notorious career.

* Captain Richard Worley - This small time pirate had big ambitions.

Other Sites About Individual Pirates

* Anne Bonny - An account of the life of the notorious female pirate, based on the writings of John Carlova.

* Black Sam Belamy - Good biography page on the prince of pirates.

* Legends Pirates and Privateers: Blackbeard - Biography of one of the most infamous pirates in history.

* Blackbeard's Realm - All about this most famous pirate in history.

* Blackbeard's Shipwreck - Information on the pirate and the wreck of his ship the Queen Anne's Revenge.

* Blackbeard: Treasure Hunt - Information about Edward Teach and his ship the Queen Anne's Revenge.

* William Dampier: The New World Voyages - Brief biography of this 17th century British explorer.

* John Deane - A short biography on the sailor, mercenary, spy, diplomat, petty criminal and shipwrecked cannibal.

* Drake, Sir Francis - A short biography of the English pirate/privateer.

* Sir Francis Drake - Information on the 16th century circumnavigation of the world in the Golden Hind.

* Pirates and Privateers Sir Francis Drake - Biography of this English navigator and privateer.

* Gráinne O'Malley: Pirates and Privateers - Biography of this Irish noblewoman turned pirate. Also known as Gráinne Ni Mháille, Granuaile, Grace O'Malley, Grany Malley.

* Defiant Women: Granuaile - nice site about the famous female pirate.

* Gráinne Ní Mháille - Pirate Queen of Connaught

* Jean Lafitte - Brief info on this french rogue.

* The Illustrious Captain Bartholomew Roberts - All about one of the most fearsome pirates in history.

* John Paul Jones: Pirate or Patriot - another nice site

* Kidd's Island - A brief history of Captain Kidd and speculation about the pirate's treasure buried in the Connecticut River.

* Henry Morgan: a Welsh buccaneer - A biography of Sir Henry Morgan and his relationship with the Morgans of Monmouthshire.

* Mary Read - Biography page on this remarkable woman.

* The Life of Mary Read - Online text from the book, A General History of the Pyrates.

* Women Pirates and Privateers - An impressive list of real and fictional sea hellions.

Pirate Books and Literature

* Arthur Ransome Literary Pages - A well made site with lots of links and book reviews.

* Beagle Bay Books - Pirate Books - Dealing in fact and fiction novels. Also has list of good childrens books.

* Bloodthirsty Pirate Tales - Comic book dedicated to pirate adventure, history, and lore.

* Booty: Girl Pirates on the High Seas - Explores the historical role of female pirates.

* Buccaneer Trading Company - Antique and rare books, maps, coins and artifacts on the subject of piracy, shipwrecks and sunken treasure.

* Captain Blood - Complete online text of this classic by Rafael Sabatini.

* Howard Pyles Book of Pirates - Complete online text concerning the buccaneers and marooners of the Spanish Main.

* Isle of Tortuga - Piracy at sea throughout history. Includes biographies and original documents. A wealth of information and resouces.

* The Jolly Roger - An Online magazine with some pirate and nautical graphics.

* Letters of Marque - Historical letters from differant countries granting permission to private ship captains to plunder the ships of that governments enemies.

* Louisiana History - Pirate Ideas - Classroom themed site for young children K-6 grade. Lists several good books.

* MGPL Webrary - Pirate Books - Public library site lists over 80 pirate books.

* Naval History of the American Revolution - Written by Gardner W. Allen.

* Pirate Books - Small list of books for young children.

* Pirate Books For Your Library - Lists 28 of the best books on the subject.

* The Pirate's Hold - Pirate Books - Very nice A to Z book list.

* The Pirate's Library - Good source for many standard pirate reference books and reprinted classic factual books on piracy.

* Pirates of Pensacola - Fictional book about a present day pirate adventure.

Pirates! Stories and Legends - Some books and pirate tales ta chill yer bones.

* Piratical and Privateering Books in English - Huge A to Z list of books. Best site of it's type on the web.

* Romantic Reads of Pirates - This be the place to find pirate romance novels.

* Salty Jack's Piratical Books - Fact and fiction reading treasure fer all ages.

* Seafaring and Pirate Books - Books for sale about pirates, buccaneers and their sailing ships.

* Shipwrecks and Other Maritime Disasters - Website for contemporary maritime literature.

* Tales From the Deep - A first class site about The Queen Anne's Revenge, lost cities and Royal treasure.

* Teach's Hole - Manifest of Books - Pirate specialty store sells adult and childrens books.

* Treasure Island - Everything you could possibly want to know about Treasure Island.

* Victory in Tripoli - About America's war with the barbary pirates.

* Ye Bibliographic Buccaneer - A bibliography of maritime reference books.

This Webpage Was Last Updated On: Feb. 11, 2007