Blackbeard: Pirate King of the Caribbean

Early Life

Little is known about the early life of Edward Thatch, the man who would go on to become Blackbeard. It is thought that he was born in Bristol, England, around 1680, although some scholars argue he may have been born in Jamaica. What is known is that by 1685, the Thatch family were living in Spanish Town, in Jamaica.

The Birth of Piracy and Blackbeard’s Origins

In 1714, the Spanish War of Succession ended with the signing of the Peace of Utrecht, bringing hostilities between Britain and Spain to a close. The British Royal Navy swelled in size throughout this war, expanding to provide the required number of sailors. However, much of Britain's naval warfare was actually conducted by privateers rather than the Royal Navy.

Privateers were essentially government-licensed pirates who operated with official approval. Perhaps the most famous privateer was Francis Drake, the celebrated Elizabethan courtier. The system of privateering benefited both parties: the privateers could plunder enemy ships legally, while governments gained additional naval power without having to formally expand their military forces. This arrangement allowed nations to wage war at sea while maintaining deniability about the actions of these unofficial forces.

But, as peace arrived in Europe, naval sailors were made redundant and privateering contracts were torn up. Thousands of men were out of work - a once thriving industry gone overnight. Among the unemployed was one Edward Thatch.

Across the British colonies, tension grew between the ex-privateers and their former bosses. Many, including the infamous pirate-to-be Captain Benjamin Hornigold, were unwilling to return to poorly paid merchant work. These men set up a base in Nassau, Bahamas and turned pirate. 

Legend has it that Edward Thatch shed his name and became Blackbeard in a pub in Nassau in 1715 or 1716. Under Hornigold’s tutelage, Thatch discovered what it took to be a pirate captain. As they raided and captured sloops across the Americas, he learned that to keep men loyal, a pirate captain must provide a consistent flow of prizes, a boundless supply of food and drink, and plenty of promises of booty.

Blackbeard rose quickly through the ranks, becoming captain of his own ship, The Revenge, in 1717.

A Pirate’s Life and a Fitting Death

In his new position, and with a fearsome crew working for him, Blackbeard terrorised the seas. He plundered ships, looted chests and even stole the clothes off men’s backs. Surprisingly, he was rarely violent. He didn’t need to be. The sight of his ship, with its many guns and his intimidating appearance, was enough for even the hardiest of seafarers to comply with his demands.

One day in November 1718, a naval fight broke out between Blackbeard and a British Navy ship captained by Robert Maynard. Despite being hungover, Blackbeard and his crew, buoyed by their recent string of victories, believed they had the upper hand. They made plans to board the enemy vessel - exactly the false sense of security the British wanted to lure the pirates into.

As the pirates boarded the ship, hidden British soldiers rushed up to the deck. Fighting ensued. Amid the bloodshed, Robert Maynard and Blackbeard stepped towards each other, swords drawn. The clash of blades echoed through the ship, but it quickly became an unfair fight. The British, with their superior numbers, were overpowering the pirates. Blackbeard was battling an army. A gunshot to the stomach barely stopped him, but a further volley and swinging of swords did the job. When the gunfire ceased and the smoke cleared, Edward Thatch was dead.

Blackbeard was beheaded so they had proof of his death. His body was thrown overboard where, according to legend, it swam around the ship three times.

Colin Woodard, author of The Republic of Pirates

The General History of Pirates by Charles Johnson was released just six years after Blackbeard’s death. The book was an instant bestseller, immortalising Edward Thatch as one of the most notorious pirates ever to sail the seven seas. It is largely thanks to Johnson that pirates became the stuff of myth and legend.