Privateer in the 17th century who operated from Oostende. In the summer of 1634 he was steersman on board a privateer sailing from this port. At the Skagerrak (near Denmark/Norway) the privateer captured a herringboat. Karelszn and six other sailors were ordered to bring the prize to Oostende. En route they were sighted by several Dutch men-of-war. The priva...

Privateer in the 17th century who operated from Oostende. In the summer of 1634 he was steersman on board a privateer sailing from this port. At the Skagerrak (near Denmark/Norway) the privateer captured a herringboat. Karelszn and six other sailors were ordered to bring the prize to Oostende. En route they were sighted by several Dutch men-of-war. The privateers immediately abandoned the herring-boat. They left in a small vessel for the Beach near Ter Heijde. They pretended to be refugees from a vessel that had been captured by privateers from Duinkerken. The authorities at Ter Heijde believed their story and helped them on their way to Rotterdam. Melis Karelszn decided to stay and acted as a spy for the Belgian Admiralty for almost a year. In 1635 he was uncovered when a captured privateer sold him out.

an English pirate active in the Indian Ocean during the 1690s and was a longtime associate of Captain William Kidd. One of Kidd's earliest crew members, Gilliam was a participant in the mutiny on board the Mocha and the subsequent murder of Captain Edgecomb...

an English pirate active in the Indian Ocean during the 1690s and was a longtime associate of Captain William Kidd. One of Kidd's earliest crew members, Gilliam was a participant in the mutiny on board the Mocha and the subsequent murder of Captain Edgecomb who was killed in his sleep. After taking command of the East Indiaman, Gilliam and the crew of the Mocha captured several ships in the eastern seas until his arrest after returning to New England with Kidd in 1699. Transported to Great Britain, he was tried at the Old Bailey and found guilty of piracy. While in prison, he wrote A full and true Discovery of all the Robberies, Pyracies, and other Notorious Actions, of that Famous English Pyrate, Capt. James Kelly which included references to the as yet undiscovered Galapagos Islands before his eventual execution on July 12, 1701.

Kennedy was a pickpocket and burglar before sailing from New Providence Island in the Bahamas in 1718 with Howell Davis. After Davis' murder in June 1719, Kennedy attacked the fort at Principe Island to avenge Davis' death. Kennedy was given second-in-command by t...

Kennedy was a pickpocket and burglar before sailing from New Providence Island in the Bahamas in 1718 with Howell Davis. After Davis' murder in June 1719, Kennedy attacked the fort at Principe Island to avenge Davis' death. Kennedy was given second-in-command by the crew of the Rover in appreciation of his bravery. Bartholomew Roberts was in supreme command. They sailed to Brazil where they captured a Portuguese ship carrying rich booty. While Roberts was on a captured sloop, Kennedy took both the Rover and the prize.

a French explorer and naval officer. He was born in Landudal, Brittany. During the Seven Years' War, Kerguelen-Trémarec was a privateer, but without much success. In 1767 he sailed near Rockall, or Rokol. Although he may not have approached within sight of it, or even within 150 miles, he appears to have had good information regarding it. His charted positi...

a French explorer and naval officer. He was born in Landudal, Brittany. During the Seven Years' War, Kerguelen-Trémarec was a privateer, but without much success. In 1767 he sailed near Rockall, or Rokol. Although he may not have approached within sight of it, or even within 150 miles, he appears to have had good information regarding it. His charted position for it was only 16 miles north of its actual position and he accurately described its appearance and the nearby Helen's Reef: "East of Rokol, ¼ league away, there is a submerged rock over which the water breaks". In 1771, he published a map of the area.

a Scottish sailor who was tried and executed for piracy after returning from a voyage to the Indian Ocean. Some modern historians deem his piratical reputation unjust, as there is evidence that Kidd acted only as a privateer. Kidd's fame springs largely from the sensational circumstances of his questioning before the English Parliament and the ensuing trial....

a Scottish sailor who was tried and executed for piracy after returning from a voyage to the Indian Ocean. Some modern historians deem his piratical reputation unjust, as there is evidence that Kidd acted only as a privateer. Kidd's fame springs largely from the sensational circumstances of his questioning before the English Parliament and the ensuing trial. His actual depredations on the high seas, whether piratical or not, were both less destructive and less lucrative than those of many other contemporary pirates and privateers.

the 2nd Governor of Pendennis Castle, (1568–1584) appointed by Queen Elizabeth I, as stated on his father's brass in St Budock's Church. He was MP for Lostwithiel in 1563 and twice for the family's pocket borough of Penryn, in 1571 and 1572. Although appointed a commissioner to enquire into piracy, he was himself a notorious pirate and smuggler. He was de...

the 2nd Governor of Pendennis Castle, (1568–1584) appointed by Queen Elizabeth I, as stated on his father's brass in St Budock's Church. He was MP for Lostwithiel in 1563 and twice for the family's pocket borough of Penryn, in 1571 and 1572. Although appointed a commissioner to enquire into piracy, he was himself a notorious pirate and smuggler. He was described as a man "who might sometimes keep within the law, but only out of fear of punishment". He was the subject of an official investigation in 1565. In January 1582 both he and his wife Mary Killigrew were suspected of involvement in a notorious act of piracy concerning a Spanish ship which had sheltered from a storm in an anchorage opposite Arwenack

Mary was the daughter of a former Suffolk pirate. Mary's husband Sir Henry Killigrew, a former pirate himself, was made a Vice-Admiral by Queen Elizabeth I and tasked with suppressing piracy. Whenever her husband went to sea Mary engaged in piracy using the staff ...

Mary was the daughter of a former Suffolk pirate. Mary's husband Sir Henry Killigrew, a former pirate himself, was made a Vice-Admiral by Queen Elizabeth I and tasked with suppressing piracy. Whenever her husband went to sea Mary engaged in piracy using the staff of her castle (Arwenack Castle in Cornwall) as crew and possibly with the Queen's knowledge. In 1570 she captured a German merchant ship off Falmouth and her crew sailed it to Ireland to sell. However, the owner of this ship was a friend of Queen Elizabeth who then had Lady Mary arrested and brought to trial at the Launceston assizes. Some sources say she was sentenced to death and then pardoned by the Queen but this is due to confusion with another family member. According to sources, her family either bribed the jurors and she was acquitted or Queen Elizabeth arranged a short jail sentence. Whatever transpired, she gave up pirating and took up fencing stolen goods until she died several years later.......The Killigrew family were secret backers of piracy in Cornwall. In 1583, a Spanish merchant ship was driven into Falmouth by storms. Lady Killigrew led a boarding party onto the vessel, killing the crew, and stealing the cargo. She was sentenced to death for piracy, but was let off.

English pirate, he worked in the Caribbean. He was a member of the crew of the pirate ship The Charles, led by Captain Daniel Plowman. The Charles sailed from Boston in July 1703 on a pirate expedition against the French and Spanish ships. Not lo...

English pirate, he worked in the Caribbean. He was a member of the crew of the pirate ship The Charles, led by Captain Daniel Plowman. The Charles sailed from Boston in July 1703 on a pirate expedition against the French and Spanish ships. Not long after the departure of Captain Daniel Plowman ill and because of quarantine remained in his cabin. The crew, led by proviantním officer Anthony Holding, however, rebelled and his captain chose Lieutenant John Quelch. In late September, Captain Daniel Plowman died of a fever. Later, at the shores of Brazil plundered nine Portuguese ships and gain valuable cargo of weapons, skins, sugar, fabrics, boxes of gold dust and money. By that time, however, was between Portugal and England concluded an alliance. Therefore, the English Admiralty after the report of Portugal on the looting of ships issued an arrest warrant for the entire crew. In May 1704 CHARLES ship docked in port today Marblehead, Massachusetts, where the unsuspecting crew with his share of the booty broke. Within a week, most of the crew including Charles King caught and imprisoned. In early June, he was taken to court in Boston. Charles King was based on the testimony of crew members found guilty and sentenced to several years of imprisonment.

an English officer, pirate, he worked in the Caribbean. He was a member of the crew of the pirate ship The Charles, led by Captain Daniel Plowman. The Charles sailed from Boston in July 1703 on a pirate expedition against the French and Spanish s...

an English officer, pirate, he worked in the Caribbean. He was a member of the crew of the pirate ship The Charles, led by Captain Daniel Plowman. The Charles sailed from Boston in July 1703 on a pirate expedition against the French and Spanish ships. Not long after the departure of Captain Daniel Plowman ill and because of quarantine remained in his cabin. The crew, led by proviantním officer Anthony Holding, however, rebelled and his captain chose Lieutenant John Quelch. In late September, Captain Daniel Plowman died of a fever. Later, at the shores of Brazil plundered nine Portuguese ships and gain valuable cargo of weapons, skins, sugar, fabrics, boxes of gold dust and money. By that time, however, was between Portugal and England concluded an alliance. Therefore, the English Admiralty after the report of Portugal on the looting of ships issued an arrest warrant for the entire crew. In May 1704 CHARLES ship docked in port today Marblehead, Massachusetts, where the unsuspecting crew with his share of the booty broke. Within a week, most of the crew including Francis King caught and imprisoned. In early June, he was taken to court in Boston. Francis King was based on the testimony of crew members found guilty and sentenced to death by hanging. The execution was carried out at the Friday, 30.6.1704. The course of execution secured the regiment of musketeers. He also attended by several officials of the Admiralty Court, two ministers and a few monks. It is the first judicial executions in America.

an English pirate, he worked in the Caribbean. He was a member of the crew of the pirate ship The Charles, led by Captain Daniel Plowman. The Charles sailed from Boston in July 1703 on a pirate expedition against the French and Spanish ships. Not...

an English pirate, he worked in the Caribbean. He was a member of the crew of the pirate ship The Charles, led by Captain Daniel Plowman. The Charles sailed from Boston in July 1703 on a pirate expedition against the French and Spanish ships. Not long after the departure of Captain Daniel Plowman ill and because of quarantine remained in his cabin. The crew, led by proviantním officer Anthony Holding, however, rebelled and his captain chose Lieutenant John Quelch. In late September, Captain Daniel Plowman died of a fever. Later, at the shores of Brazil plundered nine Portuguese ships and gain valuable cargo of weapons, skins, sugar, fabrics, boxes of gold dust and money. By that time, however, was between Portugal and England concluded an alliance. Therefore, the English Admiralty after the report of Portugal on the looting of ships issued an arrest warrant for the entire crew. In May 1704 CHARLES ship docked in port today Marblehead, Massachusetts, where the unsuspecting crew with his share of the booty broke. Within a week, most of the crew including John King caught and imprisoned. In early June, he was taken to court in Boston. John King was based on the testimony of crew members found guilty and sentenced to several years of imprisonment.

an 18th-century pirate. He joined the crew of Samuel Bellamy ('Black Sam') while still a juvenile, and is the youngest known pirate on record. On November 9, 1716, Bellamy and his crew, sailing the sloop Mary Anne (or Marianne), attacked and captured the Antigua...

an 18th-century pirate. He joined the crew of Samuel Bellamy ('Black Sam') while still a juvenile, and is the youngest known pirate on record. On November 9, 1716, Bellamy and his crew, sailing the sloop Mary Anne (or Marianne), attacked and captured the Antiguan sloop Bonetta, which was then en route from Antigua to Jamaica. John King, then aged between eight and eleven, was a passenger on the Bonetta.

an English privateer and politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1575 and 1648. In December 1575 Knollys was elected Member of Parliament for Oxford following the death of Edward Knollys, and held the seat unit 1589. In those early years he was involved in piracy with Sir more

an English privateer and politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1575 and 1648. In December 1575 Knollys was elected Member of Parliament for Oxford following the death of Edward Knollys, and held the seat unit 1589. In those early years he was involved in piracy with Sir Francis Drake, serving as a rear-admiral on privateering activities in the Caribbean, returning in 1586 with considerable booty. He soon after served with his brother-in-law, the Earl of Leicester, in the Netherlands campaign and was knighted by him at Flushing on 7 December 1587.

a Chinese military leader who was born in Hirado, Japan to the Chinese merchant/pirate Zheng Zhilong and his Japanese wife Tagawa Matsu, and who died on Formosa. A Ming loyalist and the chief commander of the Ming troops on the maritime front for the later empero...

a Chinese military leader who was born in Hirado, Japan to the Chinese merchant/pirate Zheng Zhilong and his Japanese wife Tagawa Matsu, and who died on Formosa. A Ming loyalist and the chief commander of the Ming troops on the maritime front for the later emperors of the withering dynasty, Koxinga devoted the last 16 years of his life to resisting the conquest of China by the Manchus. Upon defeating the forces of the Dutch East India Company (VOC) on Formosa in his last campaign in 1661–1662, Koxinga took over the island in order to support his grand campaign against the Manchu-ruled Qing dynasty.