Famous pirates

Blackbeard: (1680 -1718) Blackbeard is thought to be one of the most bloodthirsty pirates who ever sailed the seven seas! His real name was Edward Teach. He is said to have been born in Bristol, England. His ship was called the Queen Anne’s Revenge. Blackbeard used to tie black ribbons in his long beard, and set fire to pieces of rope in his hair to blast his enemies with thickblack smoke!

Anne Bonny: (1702-1782). Anne Bonny is one of the world’s most famous female pirates. She had fiery red hair and a temper to match! She was part of the crew on a small sailing ship called Revenge. Calico Jack Rackham was the captain and another female pirate, Mary Reed was a fellow crewmember. The terrible trio went on to steal another single-masted sailing ship (or ‘sloop’) called the William. Both Anne Bonny and Mary Reed used to dress as men when sailing to avoid detection. (Women were not allowed on board!)

Calico Jack Rackham: (16882-1720) Calico Jack was an English pirate whose real name was John but he was nicknamed ‘Calico Jack’ because he always wore colourful clothing made from Indian calico fabric.

 

 

Captain James Hook: Captain Hook is a fictional pirate in the story of Peter Pan by J.M Barrie. He bears a terrible grudge against Peter Pan because the boy fed his arm to a crocodile! At the end of the story, the two enemies must fight to the death.

 

Davy Jones: The phrase ‘Davy Jones’ locker’ is used by seafarers to mean the bottom of the ocean and to be sent to Davy Jones’ locker’ usually means that a person has drowned. Legend has it the real Davy Jones was a British pub owner (Just like Jolly- Bones Jones!) who liked to kidnap sailors. Some call Davy Jones the evil spirit of the sea.

 

Grace O’Malley (or Granuaile Ó Máille): (1530 –1603) Grace O’Malley was a powerful Irish redhead who was also known as the Pirate Queen of Connacht. She longed for life at sea, so, as a young girl she cut off her hair with a knife and stowed away on one of her father’s ships. The crew renamed her ‘Grace the Bald.’ She took over a fleet of ships that had been ruled by her father, Eoghan Dubhdara Ó Máille. All of her ships flew the flag of the white seahorse.

 

Long John Silver: Long-John Silver is a fictional pirate in the story of Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson. He has a parrot called Captain Flint (named after his previous pirate captain) and he is also known as ‘Barbeque’ because he is the ship’s cook. He is the villain of Stevenson’s story but he is a very likeable character.