The Golden Age of Piracy generally refers to the era when history’s most famous pirates roamed the seas of the West Indies from 1670-1720, engaging in colorfully daring and oftentimes murderous attacks on any ship they felt emboldened enough to take on. And it is no coincidence that while the end of the Golden Age was marked by the death of Blackbeard, the beginning of it was marked by the rise of Henry Every. Though Every is no longer as well-remembered as the likes of Blackbeard or Black Bart, in his day he was the “King of Pirates”, and he is recognized as blazing the trail and setting the gold standard for the pirates that followed him.
Although Captain Morgan has become somewhat synonymous with spiced rum in the 21st century, Henry Morgan has been one of the best known pirates and privateers for centuries, long before an alcohol was named after him. The swashbuckling captain, who fought nearly as hard as he drank, has long been a favorite among authors looking to write exciting novels about pirates.
It would be an understatement to say that pop culture’s perception of piracy and pirates has been primarily influenced by Captain Edward Teach, known to the world as Blackbeard, the most famous pirate of all time. An English pirate who terrorized the high seas near the Carolinas in the early 18th century, a period often referred to as the Golden Age of Piracy, Blackbeard was the gold standard, and in the 300 years since his death he has inspired legends that have spanned books like Treasure Island, movies, and even theme park rides.
Black Bart may not be as well known today as other pirates of the era, but he was truly the gold standard during the Golden Age of Piracy. Despite the fact he was initially reluctant to become a pirate and had to be talked into it, Roberts and his crew captured nearly 500 ships in just a few years, making him the most successful pirate in history.
