Blackbeard And Maynard example essay topic

Throughout history pirates have terrorized the world's seas. There are few men that have been feared as much as pirates were. Names such as pirate, buccaneer, and privateer were given to these men and women that terrorized the seas. Black Sam Bellamy, Bartholomew Roberts, Jean Lafitte, Steve Bonnet, and Ann Bonny are some of the most feared names know to man. These were the names of pirates that dominated the seas during the 1600's and 1700's, a time known as the "Golden Age of Piracy".

However, one of the greatest pirates of all time was the great Edward Teach, alias Blackbeard. He terrorized the seas for most of his gruesome life during this era. The "Golden Age of Piracy" marked a time when sea travel was unsafe for everyone, with Blackbeard being one of the lead factors. The history of piracy dates back more than 3000 years. "It appears that the word pirate (pei rato) was first used in about 140 BC by the Roman historian Polybius. The Greek historian Plutarch, writing in about 100 A.D., gave the oldest clear definition of piracy.

He described pirates as those who attack without legal authority not only ships, but also maritime cities (web)". The most common meaning of the word pirate recognizes them as an outlaw and a thief. Anyone who was caught and tried with the act of piracy would be sentenced to death. Most people are familiar with the words pirate, privateer, and buccaneer.

These words are all names given to groups of pirates. They were all essentially the same thing, with slight differences. In one case, however, you could be considered a legal pirate. These men were called privateers. "A privateer was a pirate who by commission or letter of marque from the government was authorized to seize or destroy a merchant vessel of another nation (web)". Many kings hired privateers to help weaken their enemies.

Privateers would sail the seas and loot and pillage ships in the name of their country. They tended to stay as far from the coast as possible to avoid any navy that might be about. Privateers with a letter of marque were considered legal by international law and they were not supposed to be charged with the act of piracy. However, more often that not, if the enemy managed to seize a privateer, they would often charge them with piracy and have them killed. Two perfect examples of privateers are Sir Francis Drake and Henry Morgan. Both men were so successful that they eventually received knighthood from the crown.

Another famous group of pirates were the Buccaneers. "Buccaneers were initially hunter's of cattle and pigs on the island of what is now known as Haiti and the Dominican Republic (web)". The buccaneer's main source of food was the pigs found on the islands. They got their name from the French word " " which meant barbecue. Often at times, these men were seen barbecuing the pig meat on grills. They learned this style of cooking from the Arawak Indians.

The buccaneers were men driven out by the Spanish, runaway slaves, deserters, and others who just hated the Spanish. "The word buccaneer soon became common, and by the 17th century was used to describe pirates and privateers who had bases in the West Indies (web)". From the late 1600's to the early 1700's, the Bahamas was a haven for pirates and government-sanctioned privateers. They preyed on Spanish galleons laden with gold from the New World, and left behind tales of ruin, revelry, and buried treasure. This was the time knows as the "Golden Age of Piracy".

It was during this time that America was still in its beginnings and colonial times. There was no navy anywhere near America, who was still under British rule, at the time. The Caribbean Sea was too far away for Britain to send its navy. Because of this, ships had to sail on their own behalf without the protection of a navy.

This is the time when piracy was at its peak. This is the time when Blackbeard ruled the seas. One of the most famous pirates of all time is Edward Teach. Historians believe Edward Teach's original name was Edward Drummond and that he later changed it to Teach after he became a true pirate. However, there is some mystery that surrounds his real name.

There are records showing that he sometimes went by Thatch, Tach, Thatch, and Tash. These names could very well be an alias just as much as the next. With all of these names, Edward Teach was most commonly known as Blackbeard, and that is how he is remembered in history. Blackbeard received his nickname from his long, black, gruff looking beard that covered most of his face. He never trimmed his beard, and because of this, it grew down to his chest and was very bushy. During raids, he would braid his long hair and beard and tie slow burning, hemp fuses to the ends of his beard.

He would light the fuses during battle to make his head look like it were on fire, giving him a very scary look. "The effect was terrifying. His face, with its fierce eyes and matted hair, was wreathed in smoke, and he looked to his prey like a fiend from hell" (Botting, Douglas - The Pirates). "Blackbeard's background, like that of most pirates, is obscure" (Botting, Douglas - The Pirates). However, it is believed that Black bead was born in Bristol, England around 1680. Contrary to popular belief, some people believe that he was born in Virginia or Jamaica, but history books recognize Bristol as his home.

It is at this time that Blackbeard learned the skills of his trade. He became a privateer for Benjamin Hornigold. Hornigold hired Blackbeard to help him capture ships in the West Indies during the War of the Spanish Succession. After the end of the war in 1713, there wasn't much use for privateers.

Countries were coming at peace with one another and no longer needed to hire privateers. Blackbeard couldn't resist the lifestyle of a pirate and soon left the government to become a full-fledged pirate. "Under the tutelage of Benjamin Hornigold on New Providence, Blackbeard soon distinguished himself as a natural pirate leader-tall, enormously strong, wild and brave" (Botting, Douglas - The Pirates). Upon leaving the side of Hornigold, Blackbeard took with him a French vessel that they had captured off the coast of St. Vincent in the West Indies.

The name of this ship was the Concorde. When he became captain, however, he renamed the ship Queen Anne's Revenge, mounted 40 guns on her, and sailed into the Caribbean. Queen Anne's Revenge was a large, yet fast ship with 3 masts and measuring around 90 feet long. She was capable of carrying 300 tons of booty and up to 250 pirates on board. She was a pirate's dream ship, indeed. Blackbeard took to the pirate life perfectly.

He managed to capture about 20 ships in his career. He stole from any ship that carried gold, spices, medical supplies and of course rum. If there was one thing that Blackbeard loved more than anything, it was his rum. He drank constantly, as did his crew. In fact, he credited it for keeping his crew happy and under his command. When the rum ran low, his crew became very irritable and he would purpose take over a ship just to restore their rum supply.

Blackbeard wasn't the richest or most successful pirate that there was, but he was still very feared. He sailed along in areas as far north as Virginia and as far south as Honduras. "By June 1718, Blackbeard was in command of a sizable fleet consisting of four ships, several small tenders and some 400 men" (Botting, Douglas - The Pirates). It was in North Carolina, however, that Blackbeard seemed to take most at home to. It was here that North Carolina's Governor, Charles Eden, granted Blackbeard and his crew a pardon in return for a large supply of the pirate's loot. North Carolina was still very poor at this time, so the Governor allowed for Blackbeard and his men to camp out here.

They would dock their ships in the bays and sell there stolen loot on shore. Blackbeard and his crew felt very safe and at home in these waters. Hugh R. Rankin once quoted", Edward Teach, alias Blackbeard, more than any other, can be called North Carolina's own pirate" (web). In the spring of 1718, Blackbeard decided to blockade the city of Charleston, South Carolina. He captured eight or nine ships and help prisoners' ransom for badly needed medical supplies.

After about a week, the Governor of South Carolina gave into the pirate's demands and sent the medical supplies without a single shot being fired. After holding Charleston for ransom, Blackbeard made off with his loot and headed for Ocracoke Island, North Carolina. Governor Eden let Blackbeard slide without any punishment for his blockade on Charleston. Virginia's Governor, Alexander Spotswood, was furious with Blackbeard's actions. He found out about his path towards Ocracoke Island and feared that he was planning on building a pirate fortress there.

Blackbeard was traveling on a new vessel called the Adventure, along with another captured vessel. "Governor Spotswood enlisted the help of two experienced buccaneer hunters: - Captains Maynard and Hyde" (web php? article id = 96). On the day of November 17, the Governor sent out two navy sloops, for the Captains regular ships were too large to safely pursue Blackbeard. Robert Maynard captained the first sloop the Jane, and was in charge of the expedition of 60 men. Captain Hyde assisted Maynard in the second sloop, the Ranger. The two captains were at a great disadvantage with their smaller sloops.

They were unable to carry any heavy guns and had to rely on their own pistols for weaponry, whereas Blackbeard's Adventure was clad with 10 cannons. By late afternoon on the 21st, a local pilot guided the two Captains through the sandbars and shoals safely. "Blackbeard, unaware of the impending fight, only had a crew of 19 on board and spent the evening drinking heavily with some of his men" (web php? article id = 96). In the morning, Maynard and Hyde tried to sneak in behind a smaller boat and surprise attack the Adventure. A lookout quickly caught sight of the approaching sloops and warned Blackbeard, whom fired a few rounds, took up anchor, and fled. "Maynard and Hyde were soon in hot pursuit but in the rush both their sloops ran aground" (web id = 96).

Blackbeard mocked the stranded men and told them that he would not be taking prisoners. Soon enough, the tide rose and the sloops were free again. The wind had come to a halt, however, so Maynard and Hyde had to result to oars. The Adventure viscously broadsided the Ranger, killing Captain Hyde, and wounded 5 of the crewmember's, putting the Ranger out of the fight. It was now a war between Blackbeard and Maynard.

Maynard sent out an attack on the Adventure, successfully bringing down her mass and sails. Blackbeard could no longer retreat. Maynard had secretly hidden his crew below deck and rowed on up to Blackbeard's Adventure. Blackbeard, not realizing this, thought he had the upper hand in the battle. He then shouted out to his men "all knock'd on the head, except three or four; and therefore let's jump on board, and cut them to pieces" (Botting, Douglas - The Pirates). Blackbeard was the first one across as he boarded Maynard's sloop with 10 of his men close behind.

However, as soon as Blackbeard and his men were aboard, Maynard ordered everyone that could still fight to fly up on deck and meet the pirate and his crew in a head on battle. The two crews met head on, in what is known today, as one of the greatest battles of history. Cutlass's clanged and pistol shots were fired, until in the midst of battle, Blackbeard and Maynard met face to face. Both fired a pistol shot at one another simultaneously. Blackbeard, thanks to his heavy drinking the night before, missed. Maynard's shot, however, hit Blackbeard square in the body.

This shot seemed to have no effect what so ever on the pirate, but only enraged him. He swung his cutlass violently and broke Maynard's right in half, leaving him defenseless. Just as Blackbeard was getting ready to deliver the deathblow, one of Maynard's men sliced right across Blackbeard's throat. Still, the enraged pirate fought on. More of Maynard's men shot and slashed at Blackbeard. Nothing seemed to be able to stop this giant of a man.

The pirate fought on and on as he was slashed and cut from every angle. At last, he drew a pistol from his belt, cocked it and raised it. It was too late. The wounds were too immense. The great pirate fell over dead on the deck.

With the death of their fearless leader, the rest of Blackbeard's crew dropped their weapons and surrendered. When all was said and done, 10 of the pirates had been killed, all 9 survivors were wounded; Maynard also had 10 dead with 24 wounded. Upon examining Blackbeard's corpse, there were no fewer than 25 wounds, 5 being from pistol shots. Blackbeard truly was a giant of a man, and it took a whole army of men to finally bring him down. Maynard beheaded the corpse of Blackbeard and hung the head from his ships bowsprit as he sailed home victorious. "The mutilated body of the pirate was thrown overboard in Ocracoke where he fell.

Legend has it that the headless corpse saw around the sloop several times in defiance before it sank form sight" (Botting, Douglas - The Pirates). Blackbeard's death virtually marked the end of the "Golden Age of Piracy". The "Golden Age of Piracy" only lasted about 30 years, but they may have been the most feared 30 years our world has experienced. No man was safe at sea with the dreaded pirates about. After Blackbeard's death, no other pirate would be as great as he.

Blackbeard may not have been the most successful or richest pirate of all time, but he is one of the most popular and recognized pirates of all time. Many tales are told of his battles at sea and of his pirate way of life. Blackbeard has, and will continue to go down in history, as one of the greatest pirates of all time.