 Pirates and Privateers
The History of
Maritime Piracy
Cindy Vallar,
Editor & Reviewer
P.O. Box 425,
Keller, TX 76244-0425
Recommended Pirate, Privateering,
& Maritime Websites
Archaeology &
Shipwrecks
Archéologie
de la Piraterie (French, English)
French and
international researchers formed their own
organization to better understand pirates by
studying what archaeological finds can tell us.
This group shares their knowledge and
research about piracy and the search for pirate
shipwrecks. There are maps, a timeline, videos,
and more.
Des chercheurs
français et internationaux ont créé leur propre
association pour mieux comprendre les pirates en
étudiant ce que les découvertes archéologiques
peuvent nous apprendre. Ce groupe partage ses
connaissances et ses recherches sur la piraterie
et la recherche d'épaves de navires pirates.
Vous y trouverez des cartes, une chronologie,
des vidéos et bien plus encore.
Archaeology
at the Hotel Indigo Site
Excavation
for a new hotel in Alexandria, Virginia,
unearthed the remains of an 18th-century ship.
This web page covers the archaeology, and
provides historical context and excavation
highlights and updates. Reports and other documents are
downloadable.
Blackbeard's
Queen Anne's Revenge Shipwreck Project
Nautilus
Productions was the official video crew on the
dives and exploration of Blackbeard's flagship.
This web page of includes footage from the site,
biographical and historical information on
pirates, and a timeline of events from Sir
Walter Raleigh's execution in 1618 for piracy
through court rulings involving Nautilus and the
misuse of its footage.
Discover
the Mary Rose
She was King
Henry VIII's pride and joy. Built between 1509
and 1511, this 16th-century English warship had
a successful career before she sank during the
Battle of the Solent. More than 500 lives were
lost. Salvage began soon after, but plans to
raise her were put on hold until her remains
were rediscovered four centuries later. Learn
more about the museum, its collections,
conservation, research, and archaeology. Information
about Mary Rose's history and timeline,
as well as who was who and what they did aboard
ship are also discussed.
Mardi
Gras
Her identity
remains unknown, but this vessel sank in the
Gulf of Mexico sometime in the 19th century. She
was discovered by oilfield inspectors, and
marine archaeologists investigated the site in
2007. This website provides the history,
research plan, artifacts, pictures, videos, and
a daily log of the expedition.
NUMA (National
Underwater and Marine Agency)
This
non-profit foundation is dedicated to searching
and preserving maritime heritage. It was founded
by Clive Cussler, author of the Dirk Pitt action
adventure novels. Aside from discovering more
about him, visitors can also learn about various
ships and the searches for their final resting
places, read an excerpt from Sea Hunters
and articles about some shipwrecks, including
the slaver-turned-pirate ship Whydah.
El
Nuevo Constante
This Spanish
ship wrecked off the coast of Louisiana in 1766,
following a hurricane. She was lost to history
for more than two centuries before being found.
You can download part or all of the documentary
information, or explore the site and artifacts
online.
Port
Royal, Jamaica Project
Once a
haven for pirates that earned the moniker of the
"Wickedest City on Earth," Port Royal was struck
by a massive earthquake one morning in June
1692. The peninsula, made of sand, did not fare
well because the ground mostly consisted of
sand. When the tremors struck, many buildings
sank beneath the waves. More than 2,000 people
died during and after the disaster. This website
shares what marine archaeologists and historians
have discovered after a decade of excavating the
underwater site.
Queen
Anne's Revenge Project
She was a slaver ship that caught the attention
of one of the most-feared pirates of his day.
When Blackbeard captured her, he christened his
"new" pirate ship, Queen Anne's Revenge.
After his successful blockade of Charleston,
South Carolina's harbor, QAR ran aground
on a sandbar and sank beneath the waters off the
North Carolina coast. More than 200 years later,
the remains of this wreck were found. This
website recounts Blackbeard's and QAR's
history, as well as the underwater excavations,
and the study and conversation of her artifacts.
Images of the artifacts, a blog, and other
information can also be found here.
Vikingskip
og norske trebåter / Viking ships and
Norse Wooden Boats
This
Norwegian-English site explores early boats used
by the people of Norway, especially during the
period often referred to as the Viking Era. Some
information comes from petroglyphs or the sagas.
The pictures include recovered vessels such as
the Gokstad Ship, the Osberg Ship, and the
Skuldelev remains, as well as replicas.
Denne norsk-engelske siden utforsker
tidlige båter som ble brukt av folket i Norge,
spesielt i perioden ofte referert til som
vikingtiden. Noe informasjon kommer fra
helleristninger eller sagaene. Bildene
inkluderer gjenvunne fartøyer som
Gokstadskipet, Osbergskipet og
Skuldelev-restene, samt kopier.
Wreckwatch
This
magazine covers sunken ships and the undersea
world. Articles explore shipwrecks, exploration,
maritime trade, history, and art. Occasionally,
they also offer special issues on pirates. The
full-color, digital magazine is free; you just
have to subscribe to gain online access to
current and back issues. NEWS equates to a blog,
so there are articles and book reviews there.
Another offering is Wreckwatch TV, which are
videos hosted by co-founders Sean Kinglsey and
Chris Atkins.
The
Ages of Exploration
Discover maritime history with
The Mariners' Museum and Park. The timeline is
divided into four periods: Ancient Exploration,
Medieval Exploration, "Age of Discovery," and
Modern Exploration. Tools, explorers, voyages,
and ships are examined. Resources include
videos, games, and printable activities.
Gaspee Virtual Archives
HMS Gaspee was detailed
by the Royal Navy to make certain that maritime
trade laws were heeded and smugglers were
stopped from bringing contraband into the colony
of Rhode Island. She ran hard aground in 1772,
and on hearing this news, Rhode Islanders
decided to end her career. They set her afire,
which caused her powder magazine to explode.
This archive provides access to information
about the ship, the affair, the people and the
history of this incident that predated the
American Declaration of Independence. Some items
are transcriptions of primary documents. The
site also includes curriculum aids for teachers
and a section just for students.
The
Not-So-Jolly-Roger
Originally created to accompany a
Discover Kids Channel series entitled "Time Warp
Trio," this pirate curriculum provides
historical background and activities connected
to language arts and social sciences for
children. Note: Most of the online links are no
longer active, but the activities and other
information for use in the classroom remain
useful.
Slave
Voyages
Scholars have long studied the
trans-Atlantic and intra-American slave trade,
and this website is a culmination of their
independent and collaborative research.
Millions of Africans were robbed of their
freedom, endured horrific voyages, and lived
their remaining lives enslaved. Some
participated in rebellions. The story of the
enslaved also incorporates information on the
perpetrators. There are a variety of
informative databases, maps, image galleries,
lesson plans, and blog posts. While not
specifically a pirate website, pirates had
connections to slaves (some became crew
members; others were sold for profit) and the
vessels they prized most were slave ships,
which became flagships of their flotillas.
USS
Constitution Museum
Launched in 1797, USS Constitution
is a frigate that earned the moniker "Old
Ironisdes" during the War of 1812. She remains
in active service and the museum provides this
website for visitors to discover and learn about
her history and the men and women who have
served aboard her. Pages are devoted to her
history, the museum's collection of artifacts,
fun and games for students (of all ages), and
resources for educators. The blog includes
fascinating articles on people and artifacts
connected to this ship and the US Navy. There
are also a number of videos of the frigate, her
restorations, and more.
Boating
Glossary
This site provides definitions to
hundreds of nautical words from A to Z.
Historical
Dictionary of Mediterranean Nautical Terms
This is a modern, multilingual
dictionary of nautical vocabulary pertaining to
the Mediterranean, although there are other
regions and time periods included. The
information is compiled from primary and
secondary source material. Aside from
explanations of the terms, the entries also
include the word's etymology and historical
development.
Illustrated
Terminology from the Age of Sail
While many glossaries provide
definitions, The Art of the Age of Sail includes
pictures that allow you to better understand the
definitions. The site also permits searches if
you don't want to skim through the alphabetical
list of words. There is also a database of
ships.
Pirate
Glossary
Words associated with pirates and
the maritime world of yore can be found here.
Words may be associated with dressing like a
pirate, pirate decorating, drinking and
merriment, name-calling, weaponry, and ships.
There are also brief biographies of famous
pirates.
William
Falconer's Dictionary of the Marine
In 1780, William Falconer, author
of "The Shipwreck," compiled a dictionary of
marine terms that covered technical words and
phrases, construction, equipment, furniture,
machinery, movements, and the military
operations of a ship. This is an archival copy
of the original digital resource.
The
Buccaneers of America
Part of the Exploring the Early
Americas exhibit, this web page from the Library
of Congress provides excerpts and pictures from
Alexandre Exquemelin's De Americaenische
Zee-rovers, originally published in 1678.
Exquemelin was a buccaneer himself, and his book
provides unique, primary accounts of the
buccaneers and their exploits. The text of each
excerpt, which is in English, is provided in
text and can also be heard in either the MP3 or
RealAudio formats. A picture of the original
Dutch publication accompanies each excerpt and
can be enlarged.
Colonies,
Ships, and Pirates
David
Fictum, a historian and researcher, wrote a blog
that explored the history of the Atlantic World
from 1680 to 1740, with particular emphasis on
pirates and maritime matters. If you don't want
to scroll through all the posts, there is a
subject index at the top of the page that allows
you to access all articles that fall under the
headings of Colonial History, Ships &
Maritime History, or Pirate History.
Corsairs
& Captives
The Barbary Corsairs, whether
privateers or pirates, sought one particularly
lucrative treasure -- slaves. Adam Nichols, an
associate professor at the University of
Maryland, has an abiding interest in the Barbary
corsairs. His blog focuses an various aspects of
these marauders, as well the captives whom
became their victims. Many of the posts that
fall under these two categories include period
documents. Other posts provide background
information, while others are book
recommendations.
Le
Diable Volent (French)
Ce site est
consacré à l'histoire, à la vie, et aux
coutumes des boucaniers, pirates et corsaires
des Caraïbes durant la seconde moitié du XVIIe
siècle. Il comprend une gazette de la
flibuste, les articles et les documents, ainsi
qu'une histoire générale.
This website is devoted to the history,
life, and customs of the buccaneers, pirates,
and privateers of the Caribbean during the
second half of the 17th century. It includes a
directory of buccaneers, articles, and
documents, as well as a general history.
Gold
and Gunpowder
These fascinating and educational
podcasts provide in-depth explorations on a wide
variety of topics related to piracy. In addition
to the history, biographies, and pirate life,
there are also interviews with authors and
historians who study and write about pirates.
"Learn more" always includes additional
information and the consulted sources, as well
as the credits for music and footage, and
timestamps for those interested in specific
segments.
Golden
Age of Piracy
The Library of Congress has
compiled a research guide for those seeking
information on piracy between 1650 through 1726.
The guide highlights primary and secondary
resources (especially those housed within their
collection), databases (some can be only
accessed at the library), external websites, and
print resources. Their
resources include digital collections (such as
maps and piracy trials), blog posts,
exhibitions, pictorial collections, rare books
and special collections, and webcasts.
The
Golden Age of the Wakō
The enforcement of a sea ban on
trade gave rise to a group of pirates that
became known as the Wakō. This is how the Wakō, a pirate
syndicate, came to be and flourished in Asian
waters. In addition to the history, there are
also interactive maps and a list of consulted
sources.
Isle of
Tortuga
Devoted to the history of piracy,
this website includes full-text documents,
letters of marque, songs, pirates' articles of
agreement, biographies, Tortuga's history, the
Dutch Sea Beggars, modern piracy, and more.
Although no longer maintained, this is one of
the oldest websites devoted to pirate history on
the Internet. Many items are still accessible.
Some information is in Dutch.
Deze website is gewijd aan de geschiedenis van
piraterij en bevat documenten met volledige
tekst, kaperbrieven, liederen,
piratenovereenkomsten, biografieën, de
geschiedenis van Tortuga, de Nederlandse geuzen,
moderne piraterij en meer. Hoewel niet langer
onderhouden, is dit een van de oudste websites
die gewijd is aan de geschiedenis van piraterij
op internet. Veel items zijn nog steeds
toegankelijk. Sommige informatie is in het
Nederlands.
Piracy
Trials
This digitized collection of
piracy trials held prior to 1923 are held by the
Library of Congress. Among those covered here
are Nichols Fernandez, Joseph Baker, Charles
Gibbs, William Kidd, John Quelch, Thomas Green,
and Stede Bonnet. While the majority of the
material is in English, there are a few in other
languages.
The
Pirate Surgeon's Journals
Mission the Surgeon is a pirate
reenactor who shares his knowledge of piracy and
surgery with those interested in the golden age
of piracy. He provides a wealthy of information
from a unique perspective and there is something
fascinating for even veteran researchers to
learn here. Aside from the sea surgeon's
environment, surgical procedures, and the sea
surgeon as a physician, Mission covers other
piratical topics such as Christmas at sea, the
author A General History of Pyrates,
primary sources, and more.
The
Pyrate Chronicles
Author Wayne Savage maintains
this website about pirates and their way of
life. He covers famous pirates, wars and
revolts, the great storm of 1703, what pirates
ate, their ships and crew, and nautical
language. His stories always incorporate music,
which he discusses here and provides video clips
of the songs when possible. Another section is
devoted to pirate bands and their music.
The
Pirate Empire
TS Rhodes, author of a pirate
novel series, shares interesting blog posts
about pirates, their history, their weaponry,
their daily lives, and more. Scroll through the
articles to find an interesting array of topics
and illustrations, such as pirates eating fried
chicken.
The
Pirate History Podcast
Matt Arthur focuses on the real
history of pirates during the golden age
(1700-1725) and the world in which they lived.
He debunks the myths and looks at what
influenced them and how they influenced (and
continue to do so) society. He also recommends
books on piracy for those who want to know more.
Pirate
Walks
Peter Martin conducts tours of
Bristol, England that focus on the city's
maritime history. His website shares some of the
information that he knows about pirates, seamen,
slavery, the American colonies, and people from
the West Country with connections to piracy.
The
Pirate's Realm
Captain Sage provides lots of
information on the golden age of piracy: famous
pirates, pirate talk, pirate ships, who's who on
a crew, weapons, hideouts, flags, and articles
of agreement. There's also information about
museums to visit, mini-golf courses, and pirate
reenactors.
Pirates!
Fact and Legend
Krzysztof Wilczynski offers
visitors intriguing facts about pirates and
their way of life. The history delves into the
troubled times and the forces that influenced
these sea marauders and their world. Famous
pirates can be found here, including a special
section on female pirates. The third broad
category looks at the legends, life, and culture
of the pirates, some separate the myth from the
reality while other sections help you learn to
talk like a pirate or just have fun. Pirates!
has been around a long time, and you'll even
find a few articles that I contributed. It has
always been one of my go-to sites when I seek
information.
Pirates
of the Caribbean
Tobias Gibson has long maintained
this site dedicated to golden age pirates and
their way of life. He provides information meant
to educate and to help emerging scholars
research the fascinating world of these sea
marauders. Aside from the facts and fictions
that he discusses, you'll find famous pirates, a
lexicon, and topics such as medicine, places,
ships, and weapons. He says "this page was
probably the first page on piracy to exist on
the WWW . . . and was never intended to be
'fancy.'" I agree with both. This has always
been one of my go-to sites ever since I began
studying pirates several decades ago.
Rob
Ossian's Pirate's Cove
If you have a question about
piracy, there's a good chance Rob Ossian,
otherwise known as the Pirate King, has it on
his website. His is a comprehensive collection
of pirate and nautical information with
biographies (of pirates, privateers, and
explorers), sailing vessels, vocabulary,
navigational information, music and sea
shanties, pirate movies, knot tying, weaponry,
rum, clothing and costumes, a reading list, and
historical documents.
Slave
Voyages
Scholars have long studied the
trans-Atlantic and intra-American slave trade,
and this website is a culmination of their
independent and collaborative research. Millions
of Africans were robbed of their freedom,
endured horrific voyages, and lived their
remaining lives enslaved. Some participated in
rebellions. The story of the enslaved also
incorporates information on the perpetrators.
There are a variety of informative databases,
maps, image galleries, lesson plans, and blog
posts. While not specifically a pirate website,
pirates had connections to slaves (some became
crew members; others were sold for profit) and
the vessels they prized most were slave ships,
which became flagships of their flotillas.
Smugglers'
Britain
Smuggling was big business during
the 18th and 19th centuries in Britain. This
website discusses the history of smuggling and
introduces visitors to some of the most famous
of the smugglers, both individuals and gangs.
The Way
of the Pirates
Although this site hosts a lot of
advertisements, it does have basic details about
pirates, the history of piracy from ancient
times to modern, pirate life, and fictional
works about pirates.
Miscellany
Real
Pirates
Rather than a
history website per se, this one is about
pirate costuming. It's purpose is to help
you create a realistic and authentic outfit
for whatever event you need it. Along the
way, you also learn about the history of
pirates and other aspects of piracy that
help create the right piratical attitude.
Robert
Jacob
An author and
reenactor, Jacob also shares popular games
from the golden age that pirates may have
played, recipes, music, and maps.
Seascapes,
Littoral Cultures, and Trans-Oceanic
Exchanges
In 2003,
researchers, historians, and others with an
interest in the maritime world gathered in
Washington, DC, to present their papers. The
conference proceedings are housed here. Of
particular interest to students of piracy
are Emily Sohmer Tai's "Marking Water,"
Marcus Rediker's "The Pirate and the
Gallows," and Peter David Shapinsky's
"Japanese Pirates and Sea Tenure in the Seto
Inland Sea of the Sixteenth Century."
Under
the Crossbones
Although no
longer an active podcast, Phil Johnson, and
later Nick Hoffman, interviewed a variety of
people with an interest in pirates from
authors like me or Benerson Little, to
musicians, historians, game designers,
actors, and more.
Modern Piracy
Communis
Hostis Omnium
This blog focuses on legal
issues concerning modern piracy. Root causes
are examined, as are suppression attempts and
prosecutions. Somalia, West Africa, Southeast
Asia, and other regions of the world are
discussed. Reviews of books dealing with the
legal aspects of piracy are also found here.
IMB
Piracy Reporting Centre (PRC)
If you were a shipmaster or one
of the ship's crew, you had nowhere to turn if
you were attacked by pirates prior to 1992.
That year, the PRC (an independent and
non-governmental agency) opened its doors in Kuala Lumpur.
Now, shipmasters can report piracy, armed
robbery, and stowaways and the PRC relays this
information to relevant law enforcement
agencies. The PRC also provides up-to-date
intelligence to all seafarers and offers
advice on how to keep safe and where the
danger zones are. You will also find a live
piracy map, as well as prior years' maps, and
reports on piracy on this website.
Piracy
Studies
Active between 2010 and 2017,
this research portal focused on contemporary
maritime security and ocean governance.
Although no longer active, the site is
maintained and contains numerous archival
articles on the study of piracy. There is also
a list of resources and a bibliography that
can be downloaded.
Pirate Literature
English Broadside Ballad
Archive
Broadsides were a type of
street literature that was popular among the
common folk. This is a collection of
broadsides (facsimiles, transcriptions, and
recordings); the link takes visitors to a list
of broadsides with "pirate" as the subject.
(Clicking on Home allows you to do your own
searches, such as on a specific pirate. Just
type the search term in "Full Text.") These
broadsides were one way in which people of the
past learned about what was happening in the
wider world.
The
Flower Boat Girl
Within the pages of Larry
Feign's website for his novel, he provides
references and blog posts of interest to
students of Asian piracy. References pertain
to the maps and characters in the book, many
of which were real people. His blog features a
variety of factual articles such as "The
Pirate Navy," "The English Captive," and "Not
the Pirate Queen."
Historic
Naval Fiction
Many nautical novels have been
published over the years. Some relate stories
set during the Age of Sail; others are about
seamen, sailors, or pirates who voyage to
distant ports and encounter all types of
dangers during their times at sea. Here you
will find information about latest releases
and a vast array of books and authors from the
past. You can search for specific titles or
authors. Some titles have been reviewed.
There's also general information, such as A
Brief History of Naval Fiction, a glossary,
galleries, and more, as well as genre lists,
including pirate fiction, privateer fiction,
and nonfiction.
I
Sailed with Chinese Pirates
First published in 1930, this
is Aleko E. Lilius's account of his time with
a female pirate named Lai Choi San. She may or
may not have been the model Arthur Ransome
used when writing Missee Lee, one of
the titles in his Swallows and Amazons series.
Lilius's reputation calls into question
whether Lai Choi San is real or fictional, and
remains a question that cannot be answered one
way or the other.
Pirates
in Print
Hosted by UC San Diego, this
virtual exhibit showcases seafaring treasures
from special collections and archives and is
curated by Dr. Mark G. Hanna, author of Pirate
Nests and the Rise of the British Empire,
1570-1740. The publications, most of
which are nonfiction, have strong connections
to Elizabethan Seadogs, buccaneers, pirates
with an interest in science, Red Sea pirates,
and the war on pirates. Two additional
sections focus on the rise of the novel and
pirates in popular culture.
Swordplay
& Swashbucklers
Author Benerson Little muses on
adventure in fact, fiction, and film in his
blog posts that often include pirates. He
often discusses the history versus the
novelist's or Hollywood's version of reality.
Visitors can also learn about his latest
projects and his published books.
Pirates, Corsairs, &
Buccaneers
The
Age of Pirates
This website focuses on the
golden age of piracy. It hosts a large number
of pirate biographies, and also has articles
on pirate havens and some miscellaneous topics
connected to piracy.
Charleston
Pirates
This website provides brief
biographies of some famous and not-so-famous
pirates, some of whom had connections to
Charleston, South Carolina.
Famous
Pirates and Privateers
The Privateer Dragons of the
Caribbean maintain a website with brief
biographies on many sea marauders from A-W.
They also have a nautical dictionary and a
list of pirate or renaissance festivals where
pirates are welcome.
In
Drake's Wake
Before the buccaneers and the
golden age pirates, there were Queen
Elizabeth's Sea Dogs. The most famous was Sir
Francis Drake, and this site is devoted to
him. There are pictures of the many different
places that he visited during his lifetime,
discoveries made through exhaustive research
in the field and in archives, videos,
articles, and more.
Major
Stede Bonnet
Descendants of this gentleman
pirate maintain this website, which contains
information about his life, his crew, what he
looked like, where he sailed, places he was
connected to, his
ship, types of plunder, his flag, and the
family tree. They also make recommendations for building your
own pirate library.
Pirate
Images
This is another long-running
site on pirates, but it differs from others
because it hosts public domain images of these
sea marauders, their battles, their ships,
punishments, maps, and flags. There are also
graphics showing pirate "fun" and artwork from
the best-known pirate artist, Howard Pyle.
Sir
Francis Drake
Collected by Hans Peter Kraus
and his wife Hanni, this collection of
material (primary and secondary sources, as
well as artifacts) provides a wealth of
information about this Elizabethan Sea Dog
whom the Spanish likened to a dragon. Gathered
together by the Library of Congress, visitors
can virtually view many different items in the
collection and read various articles and
essays.
The
Pirates of Colonial North Carolina
This
is a list, compiled by Hugh F. Rankin, of
pirates with connections to the colony of
North Carolina. If you click on the book's
title at the top of the page, you can get to
the book itself, but it takes some practice to
navigate through the book's chapters and its
illustrations. (Each chapter opens in its own
window.)
William
Dampier
Early explorers provided
glimpses of new discoveries in flora and
fauna, as well as lands and peoples.The Linda
Hall Library of Science, Engineering &
Technology, hosts a virtual exhibit entitled
"Voyages: Scientific Circumnavigations
1679-1859." Among those who sailed around the
world were buccaneers, and one of these is
highlighted in this exhibit. William Dampier
kept journals and logs about the many places
that he visited. While he later shared some of
his exploits with readers, his primary focus
dealt with scientific observations. In fact,
some words he introduced entered the English
language to become common everyday words still
in use today.
Pirate Hunting &
Suppression
An
Act for the More Effectuall Suppressions
of Piracy
In 1698, King William III
wished to bring an end to piracy once and
for all. This is the decree that he
published in hopes of accomplishing this
goal.
Alexander
Spotswood
While lieutenant governor of
the colony of Virginia, Spotswood had little
tolerance for piracy. It didn't matter whether
it occurred in Virginian waters or farther
south. When the infamous Blackbeard, also
known as Edward Thache, became too bold and
daring, Spotswood set in motion a plan that
led to the death of this pirate and the
arrest, trial, and conviction of some of his
men. This website is about him, his career,
and his attempts to thwart piracy.
Communis
Hostis Omnium
This blog focuses on
legal issues concerning modern piracy.
Root causes are examined, as are
suppression attempts and prosecutions.
Somalia, West Africa, Southeast Asia,
and other regions of the world are
discussed. Reviews of books dealing with
the legal aspects of piracy are also
found here.
Pirate
Interdiction and the U.S. Navy
Naval History and Heritage
Command hosts a resource page that provides
links to material that concern the US Navy's
role in suppressing piracy, beginning with
the Barbary pirates and continuing to the
present day. There is a list of suggested
reading, several exhibits, and some images
dealing with this subject.
A
Treasure Trove of Trials
The Law Library of Congress
put together this collection of piracy
trials to show how nations handled piracy in
the past. A few documents concern the United
States, but it also includes the Ordinary of
Newgate Prison's accounts and the trial of
Captain William Kidd. Not all of the
documents pertain to pirates, but they do
pertain to criminals. Along the way tidbits
of pirate history help to set the stage.
There is also a link to a downloadable map
of where trials took place, as well as a
bibliography.
Primary Documents
An
Act for the More Effectuall Suppressions
of Piracy
In 1698, King William III
wished to bring an end to piracy once and
for all. This is the decree that he
published in hopes of accomplishing this
goal.
B.
C. Brooks' Writer's Hiding Place
Baylus Brooks is a
professional researcher, maritime historian,
genealogist, and writer whose primary focus
is on pirates of the golden age, especially
if they have a connection to Blackbeard. In
his blog, he covers a wide variety of topics
that often center around primary sources.
Although there is no index or search
capability, there are some links to past
posts about two-thirds of the way down the
page. The front page shows the latest
articles in their entirety; if you want to
read just a single article, click on its
title and you will go to that post's
individual page.
A
Buccaneer's Atlas
Ask for the name of a
buccaneer, and Henry Morgan probably comes
to mind. He was not the only buccaneer. Two
others were Bartholomew Sharp and Basil
Ringrose, the former was a leader and the
latter was good a sketching and writing. It
is because of Ringrose's narrative that we
know about Sharp, who was destined for the
hangman's noose until he turned over a
plundered book to King Charles II. This was
no ordinary tome; it was a waggoner with
vital information about navigating the
waters around Spanish America.
The
Buccaneers of America
Part of the
Exploring the Early Americas exhibit, this
web page from the Library of Congress
provides excerpts and pictures from
Alexandre Exquemelin's De
Americaenische Zee-rovers,
originally published in 1678, in English.
Exquemelin was a buccaneer himself, and
his book provides unique, primary accounts
of the buccaneers and their exploits. The
excerpts are provided in RealAudio and MP3
formats.
Corsairs
& Captives
The Barbary Corsairs, whether
privateers or pirates, sought one
particularly lucrative treasure --
slaves. Adam Nichols, an associate
professor at the University of Maryland,
has an abiding interest in the Barbary
corsairs. His blog focuses an various
aspects of these marauders, as well the
captives whom became their victims. Many
of the posts that fall under these two
categories include period documents.
Other posts provide background
information, while others are book
recommendations.
Golden Age of
Piracy
The Library
of Congress has compiled a research
guide for those seeking information on
piracy between 1650 through 1726. The
guide highlights primary and secondary
resources (especially those housed
within their collection), databases
(some can be only accessed at the
library), external websites, and print
resources.
Their resources include digital
collections (such as maps and piracy
trials), blog posts, exhibitions,
pictorial collections, rare books and
special collections, and webcasts.
Maritime
History Archive
This organization
collects and preserves documents
related to maritime activities in
Newfoundland and Labrador and the
North Atlantic world. Among their
online offerings are publications,
a catalogue, a crew list index,
virtual exhibits, and more.
The
Maritime History Virtual
Archives
This collection of primary and
historical documents covers a wide range
of maritime topics from etymologies and
dictionaries to parts of ships,
seamanship, and more. Some documents are
in English; some are not.
Mystic
Seaport Museum's Collections
& Online Resources
This
museum's library contains
valuable 19th-century digitized
documents pertaining to the
maritime industry. Among the
documents found online, as well
as some secondary source
materials, are ship registers,
crew lists, account books,
ships' documents, and more.
Piracy
Trials
This digitized collection
of piracy trials held prior to 1923
are held by the Library of Congress.
Among those covered here are Nichols
Fernandez, Joseph Baker, Charles
Gibbs, William Kidd, John Quelch,
Thomas Green, and Stede Bonnet.
While the majority of the material
is in English, there are a few in
other languages.
Pirate's
Library
Historian and author Baylus
C. Brooks hosts a collection of primary
documents collected while doing research on
Blackbeard and other pirates of the golden
age. The library is divided into two
sections: biography and reference. The
Biography Shelf is a work-in-progress that
contains several worthwhile pages that
incorporate snippets from the 18th century:
Edward "Blackbeard" Thache Jr., Benjamin
Hornigold, and Henry Jennings. There is also
a section devoted to other supporting
players, significant events, and other
pirates and privateers.
The second section of the library is the
Reference Shelf. The main page focuses on
West Indian Pirates (Caribbean) and includes
depositions, letters, petitions and answers,
pardons, commissions, indictments and
trials, log entries, wills and deeds,
newspaper accounts, and some French records.
There is also a link to East Indian Pirates,
which showcases the same type of documentary
evidence but for piracy in Africa and the
Indian Ocean.
Privateers &
Privateering
Famous
Pirates and Privateers
The Privateer Dragons of
the Caribbean maintain a website with
brief biographies on many sea marauders
from A-W. They also have a nautical
dictionary and a list of pirate or
renaissance festivals where pirates are
welcome.
Spoils
of War
Nova Scotia Archives presents
this exhibit on privateering in Nova Scotia.
Aside from a brief introduction, they
include a chronological history of names,
dates, vessels, and events. The logs of
three privateers have been digitized, while
the virtual exhibit allows visitors to few
other documentary evidence about the
privateers. Information on primary and
secondary source material is also provided.
Visualizing
Early Baltimore
The University of Maryland
Baltimore County's Imaging Research Center
recreated Baltimore as it looked in 1815. It
is a 3D model of the city that shows its
terrain, land use, and buildings. It's a
fascinating site that allows you to zoom in
and zoom out to explore what the English
called "a nest of pirates" because of the
many privateers built in Fells Point, one of
the sections of the city.
War
of 1812: Privateers
This site provides information
on the activities of American and British
privateers during the
War of 1812 (also known as the
Anglo-American War).
Here you will find facts about prisoners of
war held by both countries, as well as
details about prize law and naval actions. A
bibliography is included.
Ships & Sailing
The
Age of Nelson
This database provides
information on commissioned officers of the
Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars, the
men who fought at the Battle of Trafalgar,
and navy ships. There are also articles and
documents pertaining to this time period.
Ancient
Sailing Techniques
This series of articles
examines early vessels and how mariners of
yore sailed from home ports to other trading
ports.
Books,
Boxes, & Boats
This maritime and historical
research site provides digital access to
archival materials. The categories include Lloyds
Register, Lloyds List, Mercantile
Navy List, photographs, crew
lists, ships, newspaper archives,
passenger lists, and more.
British
Tars
Kyle Dalton explores the
dress of common British and American sailors
from 1740 through 1790. He does so through
the study of primary source images. In the
process, he sometimes dispels myths and
always provides intriguing and informative
topics that shed light on the daily life of
seamen and sailors of the 18th century.
Gaspee
Virtual Archives
HMS Gaspee was
detailed by the Royal Navy to make certain
that maritime trade laws were heeded and
smugglers were stopped from bringing
contraband into the colony of Rhode Island.
She ran hard aground in 1772, and on hearing
this news, Rhode Islanders decided to end
her career. They set her afire, which caused
her powder magazine to explode. This archive
provides access to information about the
ship, the affair, and the history of this
incident that predated the American
Declaration of Independence. It includes
curriculum aids and a section just for
students.
History
of Ships
Jean Vaucher has collected
and condensed information from across the
Internet to cover the development of vessels
from prehistoric boats to modern times.
International
Maritime Organization
A specialized agency within
the United Nations, the IMO is responsible
for the safety and security of shipping and
the prevention of marine and atmospheric
pollution.
Maritime
History Archive
This organization collects
and preserves documents related to maritime
activities in Newfoundland and Labrador and
the North Atlantic world. Among their online
offerings are publications, a catalogue, a
crew list index, virtual exhibits, and more.
The
Maritime History Virtual Archives
This
collection of primary documents covers a
wide range of maritime topics from
etymologies and dictionaries to parts of
ships, seamanship, and more. Some documents
are in English; some are not.
Michael
of Rhodes
Michael of Rhodes was a
15th-century mariner who started as an
oarsman on a galley in 1401. Later, he
recorded his voyages, but his manuscript
disappeared for 400 years. After it
resurfaced, the Dibner Institute decided to
make his manuscript available on a wider
scale. Here, readers can view his writing,
learn about him and what he knew, and
examine maps of his journeys.
Mystic
Seaport Museum
This living museum allows
visitors to explore maritime trades in a
recreated village seaport of the 19th
century. It also includes actual historical
ships, as well as shipyard that restores
wooden vessels that still sail today. This
link takes you to a virtual tour of the
seaport and the menu allows you to explore
many other facets of the museum, including
resources and activities for educators.
National
Maritime Historical Society
NMHS celebrates our maritime
heritage. Its Sea History magazine
contains a wealth of articles on maritime
history and can be viewed online. There's
even a version for kids, although adults
will find the information equally
interesting. There are also resources that
allow you to explore other maritime
websites, including Pirates and
Privateers.
USS
Constitution Museum
Launched in 1797, USS Constitution
is a frigate that earned the moniker "Old
Ironsides" during the War of 1812. She
remains in active service and the museum
provides this website for visitors to
discover and learn about her history and the
men and women who have served aboard her.
Pages are devoted to her history, the
museum's collection of artifacts, and fun
and games for students and resources for
educators. The blog includes fascinating
articles on people and artifacts connected
to this ship and the US Navy. There are also
a number of videos of the frigate, her
restorations, and more.
Whaling
History
If you want to know about any
facet of the whaling industry, this is the
place to visit. They have several databases.
You can peruse logbooks, learn about women
who went whaling, or view maps of whaling
voyages. There's a project gallery to view
and resources for additional information.
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©2024 Cindy Vallar
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