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The History of Maritime Piracy

Cindy Vallar, Editor & Reviewer
P.O. Box 425, Keller, TX  76244-0425

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Welcome in many languages (Source:
                Canstockphoto.com)Cindy Vallar & friend

Welcome aboard Pirates and Privateers, a site devoted to the history of maritime piracy, privateering, and the sea before the Age of Steam.

Within these pages you will find articles dealing with the history and culture of these topics from ancient times to modern day. Click one of the links above or below to explore the treasures within this website.

Newest Article               Newest Book Reviews               Pirate Quote of the Month

News of Note               Events & Activities               Special Resources               The Rebel & the Spy

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                              with Cindy VallarGold and
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Each month, I send out a newsletter about the latest article and reviews posted here. I also include information that doesn't appear at Pirates and Privateers, but is still of interest to adherents of piracy and maritime history. By subscribing to the newsletter, you'll never miss out on the latest happenings here at Pirates and Privateers.

As always, if you have a question about pirates, please write and ask. If there is a particular pirate or subject, you'd like me to write about, let me know.
One cautionary note for those seeking genealogical information: Historical records about pirates are rare. Much of what is known comes from government records, newspaper accounts, and the few contemporary accounts written during a particular period. This information rarely contains details pertinent to what you need to know to identify an ancestor. The simple fact is that the vast majority of pirates' names remain unknown. I cannot answer genealogical questions. Instead, I recommend contacting genealogical depositories and websites, historical societies, and national archives -- places where the librarians and curators are better trained to assist in this type of query.
A special note to teachers and students: If you need help with a project or report, please contact me. Should you use any of my articles or reviews, please let me know and remember to include the proper citation. The majority of material contained with this website is copyrighted.


Fair winds and following seas,
Cindy

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(site last updated 19 March 2025)


Pirate Quote of the Month
I soon found that any death was preferable to being linked with such a vile crew of miscreants, to whom it was sport to do mischief, where prodigious drinking, monstrous cursing and swearing, hideous blasphemies, and open defiance of heaven, and contempt of hell itself, was the constant employment, unless when sleep something abated the noise and revellings.

Captive of New England pirates, 1722

 
Smiley AhoyMarch ArticleSmiley Ahoy Reading pirate smileyMarch ReviewsReading pirate smiley
On the Menu

And as yee would that men should doe to you, doe yee also to them likewise. (Luke 6:31, King James Bible 1611)

This was and is the Golden Rule but not the one pirates followed. The threat of the hangman’s noose was ever dangling behind their shoulders, so they preferred self-gratification at the expense of others. Whether they pillaged the provisions and cargo from the ships they attacked or ventured within dens of inequity, they indulged in cornucopias of libations and foodstuffs.


Author’s Note:
While I worked on this article, my father passed away. He shared his affinity for the water and boats with me in my youth, which helped awaken a desire to write about pirates. This article is for him. Now that you are at peace and without pain, Dad, may you eat, drink, and be merry.

My Father
Lee Aker
Rest in peace

The Resurrected Pirate
by Craig S. Chapman
Biography

Corsairs and Captives
by Adam Nichols
Pirate Captives, History: Piracy

Maritime Kensington
by Gretchen M. Bell
History: Maritime



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Pirate & Maritime News
Events & Activities

Under
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Some pages remain in the old style, while others are in the new style. We apologize for this. After twenty-four years, there are many pages to overhaul and this takes time. We appreciate your understanding and patience.


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Brick Wrecks
Sunken Ships in LEGO Bricks
8 March - 31 August 2025
The Historic Dockyard Chatham
Chatham, Kent, United Kingdom

Pirates
29 March 2025 - 4 January 2026
National Maritime Museum
Greenwich, United Kingdom

PirateFest
5 April 2025
Greenville, North Carolina

Boarded
A New Pirate Adventure
5 April 2025
14 June 2025
12 July 2025
11 October 2025
29 November 2025
27 December 2025
Maritime Museum of San Diego
San Diego, California
 
Vikings Before Vikings
11 April - 30 December 2025
Vrak -- Museum of Wrecks
Stockholm, Sweden

R. I. Pirate Guy's Pirate Adventure
19 April 2025
Mystic Seaport Museum
Mystic, Connecticut

PirateFestLV
26-27 April 2025
Craig Ranch Park
Las Vegas, Nevada

Homosassa Pirate Invasion
28 April 2025
Homosassa, Florida

Into the Charmed Churned Circle
31 May 2025
Lehigh Valley No. 79 Barge in Red Hook
Brooklyn, New York

Art of the Sea Exhibition
June 2025
National Maritime Historical Society

Bow Lines
Maritime Literary Festival

6-7 June 2025
Exeter Custom House
Exeter, United Kingdom

Maritime Heritage Conference
24-27 September 2025
Buffalo Convention Center
Buffalo, New York

Sail 250th New York
4 July 2026
New York City, New York




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Special Resources


The following pages and files contain travel adventures, photo galleries, resources,
and historical data pertaining to pirates, privateers, and maritime history.
I have gathered this information either while doing research or when traveling.

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Fun places for pirates in need of rest & relaxation

Pirate Adventures


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Photo Galleries

Before the Age of Sail

The Age of Sail

Wooden Sailing Ships


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Resources

Barbary Corsairs Resources

Canadian Piracy Resources

Modern Piracy Resources

Pirates & Death

Time Line of History


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Janes Madison, 1816, White House Collection
                      (Source:
                      https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:James_Madison.jpgJean LaffiteDolley
                      Madison by Gilbert Stuart, 1804 (Source:
                      https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dolley_Madison_(cropped).jpg)General Andrew Jackson by John Wesley Jarvis,
                      circa 1819 (Source:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:General_Andrew_Jackson_MET_DT2851.jpg)William C. C. Claiborne, artist unknown, 19th
                      century (Source:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:William_C_C_Claiborne_rectangleLAState.jpg)

The Rebel & the Spy
These five people played roles in the War of 1812. James Madison (far left) was president at the time and, in my current work-in-progress, he has a special assignment for Lucas Burnett, one of the protagonists in the novel. Jean Laffite (beside Madison) operates a smuggling operation, based on barrier islands southwest of New Orleans. One of his captains, is Dominique You, whose sister Alexine has been raised in this nefarious world of smugglers, pirates, privateers, and cutthroats. Dolley Madison is the country's presidentress (first lady) and plays a vital role in preserving some of our national treasures during the British invasion of Washington City. General Andrew Jackson (second from right) has no intention of allowing the British to gain entry to the United States through its back door (the Mississippi). Governor William C. C. Claiborne (far right) is Lucas's cousin and a constant thorn in Laffite's side. They come together within the pages of The Rebel & the Spy, a historical novel where it's not always easy to decide who is the rebel and who is the spy.

The links below are to a gallery of places depicted in my novel and a resource list for those seeking information on the people pictured above, pirates, ships in the age of sail, the Battle of New Orleans, the invasion and burning of Washington, the bombardment of Fort McHenry, and much more. (Please note that these pages are updated from time to time, so check back to see what's been added.) I hope you enjoy.

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Pirates & Privateers Newsletter

Each month I alert readers to the posting of the latest piracy article and book reviews, new additions made to the website, and interesting maritime tidbits. If you would like to receive the monthly Pirates & Privateers Newsletter, send me an e-mail with SUBSCRIBE in the subject line.

If you're not sure, here's a sample newsletter to read. I hope you enjoy!


Note to subscribers: If you fail to receive your newsletter, it's possible that your e-mail provider returned it to me for one of several reasons: they deem it to be junk mail; your mailbox is over quota; access to your account is denied; or you changed your e-mail address and forgot to notify me of the change. Contact me and we will try to resolve the problem.

If your newsletter bounces two months in a row and you don't contact me, I just delete you from the subscriber list. You're welcome to resubscribe if that occurs.


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Copyright ©2023
Cindy Vallar

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