The name Blackbeard conjures up images of pirates looting and pillaging ships on the high seas. To many this man represents the epitome of being a pirate. But who really was the man that terrorized the seas around what are the modern Outer Banks of North Carolina?
It is speculated that the man we commonly refer to as Blackbeard the pirate was a one Edward Teach, or Thatch (some sources even say his last name was Drummond) and was born around 1680 most likely in the port of Bristol or south London in England (though Jamaica and the Philippines have also been postulated as his birthplace). His pirating career is believed to have started sometime after the year 1713, when England left the war of Spanish Succession (or Queen Anne’s War). This lead him to start pirating as part of the crew of a Benjamin Horingold.
What is known of this period of Blackbeard’s life is that he was an apt lieutenant of Horingold, who placed him in charge of a sloop. Horingold was actually a privateer (at least in his own mind) and in at least one source would not attack ships that flew the British flag. This disagreed with the young Blackbeard who took command of a recent addition to the Horingold fleet, a French slave ship called La Concorde, and renamed it the Queen Anne’s Revenge. In 1717 King George I offered pardons for the privateers. Horingold took the pardon, Blackbeard did not.
From 1717-1718 Blackbeard roamed the seas capturing and plundering vessels. In this period it is thought that he had a running gun fight with a British warship the HMS Seaford ( some sources put it as the HMS Scarborough but this seems to be a mix up). This lead to his legend growing, which he did nothing to dissuade. He carefully cultivated his image of brutality so as to loot and plunder by terror alone.
It was in this period as well that he also came across another pirate, Stede Bonnet “The Gentlemen Pirate”. The duo paired up and soon Blackbeard rued it, for Bonnet proved to be an inept leader. Blackbeard promptly relieved him and set another man in charge of his ship while confining Bonnet to it.
The highlight of Blackbeard’s career is the blockade of Charleston Harbor. This occurred in late May of 1718 and at the time Blackbeard commanded a squadron of about 4 ships, his flagship The Queen Anne’s Revenge and three smaller vessels. Plundering 5 merchant vessels trying to exit or enter the harbor he also captured several prominent citizens of the area. He held these citizens for a ransom of one chest of medicine, and after securing this escaped northward. Blackbeard’s destination was the town of Bath, North Carolina. Here he accepted a pardon under the earlier royal act and went to Ocracoke Inlet.
En route to Bath the fleet ran into some trouble. Blackbeard’s large flagship ran aground in what is today Beaufort Inlet. As The Queen Anne’s Revenge floundered a rescue attempt was made by one of the smaller ships called The Adventure, which also ran aground. It has been speculated that Blackbeard did this purposefully to reduce his crew, thus giving him more loot. Taking command of one of the smaller ships he marooned several pirates and took all the provisions from the remaining ship. Bonnet again took command of this ship, renaming it The Royal James and began his pirating career again after rescuing the marooned pirates.
After receiving the pardon Blackbeard’s pirating days appeared to be over. But the Governor of Virginia, a one Alexander Spotswood, organized a British military contingent and sent them after the pirate in November 1718. They eventually caught up to Blackbeard in Ocracoke Inlet on November the 22. Blackbeard’s ship had a crew of 19 on board not counting Blackbeard. In command of the attacking forces was a one Lieutenant Robert Maynard, who had two small sloops. As the sloops approached a broadside took them by surprise, knocking out one of the sloops with a tally of 17 incapacitated (7 of those were killed). As the remaining sloop made its attack Maynard drew his forces inside after wounding Blackbeard’s ship by shooting the rigging. Forced ashore Blackbeard decided to fight and upon seeing the empty deck thought it wise to board the ship. This is when Maynard’s men attacked.
Details are spotty of the actual battle. Legend has it that it took 5 musket balls and over 20 stab wounds to take down the legendary pirate. Of course legend also says that after beheading Blackbeard and throwing his body overboard his body swam between 2 and 7 times around the ship. What is known is that he was beheaded, and his head taken back to Virginia. The prize for dispatching the legendary Blackbeard? 100 pounds, and Blackbeard’s head being put on a pole to warn other pirates.
List Of Sources
Blackbeard Wikipedia Article
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackbeard
wikipedia.org
Blackbeard the Pirate
http://www.ncmaritime.org/blackbeard/default.htm
ncmaritime.com
Blackbeard: Pirate Terror of the Seas
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/pirates/bbeard.html
nationalgeographic.com
