Famous Pirate Ships and Their Captains

famous pirate ships

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Although they were no less than thugs at sea, what make pirate ships and their captains so famous that pirate movies are blockbusters in tinsel town. It’s got something to do with history dating back as far as the 15th century when pirates are understood as part of the shipping dangers. The pirate ships then were nimble and heavily armed manned by their famous captains. The four most famous pirate ships and their captains were Queens Anne’s Revenge, Captain Blackbeard; Adventure Galley, Captain Kidd; Fancy, Captain Every; and The Golden Hind, Captain Drake.

Queen Anne’s Revenge

The number one famous pirate ship was the Queen Anne’s Revenge with her equally famous captain, Blackbeard. The ship was originally made by the British, captured by the French, captured again by pirate Captain Horninghold, and given to Edward Teach, Captain Blackbeard. In less than a year since his command of Queen Anne’s Revenge, Blackbeard raided British, Dutch, and Portuguese ships and blockaded Charleston capturing 8 valuable ships. After the blockade, Queen Anne’s Revenge ran aground in Beaufort Inlet, North Carolina while Blackbeard slipped behind the troops leaving some of his crew behind.

Adventure galley

The Adventure Galley was given to Captain Kidd to operate as a privateer ship to raid other pirate ships in the East Indian seas. In January 1698, Adventure Galley with her captain William Kidd raided an Armenian ship, Quedah Merchant. The ship was loaded with expensive fabrics making the raid the biggest Captain Kidd loot since. When Captain Kidd returned to New York, he was captured and sent to prison for his crimes. He was returned to England and later was hanged on May 23, 1701.

Fancy

The Fancy was Captain Henry Every’s ship from May 1694 to late 1695. Captain Every was the most notorious pirate in the Indian Ocean during his time raiding every ship he spotted. The biggest capture by Captain Every was the Great Mughal flagship, the Gang-Sawai, with 40 guns; the Fancy had 46 guns and 140 crew. Every retired when his crew returned home to Nassau, and he returned home to Britain aboard the Isaac. Although the fate of the Fancy was unclear, some say Captain Every gave her to the Governor of Nassau as a bribe.

The Golden Hind

Sir Frances Drake was a privateer during the Elizabethan period. Captain Drake onboard the Pelican, which he later renamed into The Golden Hind, was ordered by Queen Elizabeth herself to revenge English sailors from the Spaniards. And on March 1579, Captain Drake captured Spanish galleon Nuestra Señora de la Concepcion which carried large treasure. It was the greatest loot of the time up to 360,000 pesos. On his return to England, Queen Elizabeth knighted Frances Drake because of his great contribution, some to Queen Elizabeth’s pocket itself.

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