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Golden Age of pirates

As an island, Britain was home to several pirates and privateers. Piracy was so prevalent in fact that an era during the Elizabethan period was known as the Golden Age of Piracy.

The Golden Age of Piracy covers a time period between the 1650s and 1730s, when piracy was rife around the North Atlantic and Indian Oceans. It was typically split into three different eras, the Buccaneering Period, which mostly covered the Caribbean and saw ships attacking Spanish vessels and those transporting goods around the Pacific; the Pirate Round which involved long distance voyages between the Americas and mostly involved the East India Company and the Post Spanish Succession period, where sailors left unemployed after the end of the War of Spanish Succession turned to piracy.

History of piracy

Piracy began to emerge following conflicts over trade and colonisation among rival European powers, including Britain, Spain, the Netherlands, Portugal and France. Most pirates in this era were of Welsh, English, Dutch, Irish and French origins and tended to come from poorer areas.

When it comes to British pirates, the majority came from coastal towns, like Bristol, Plymouth and other areas of the West Country, hence the accent we all recognise. Others came from London docklands areas.

It is believed that the Golden Age of Piracy began around 1650 following the Wars of Religion which allowed European countries to resume the development of their colonial empires. This involved sea travel, leading to rival countries attacking and raiding ships for the goods they were carrying, much of it high in value.

The increase of piracy around Tortuga began after the English captured Jamaica from Spain. The early governors freely allowed buccaneers and fellow Englishmen to raid passing shops and to sell anything they had stolen around the markets. It was around this time that the pirate Henry Morgan plundered, sacked and burned Panama City.

1690s-1700

During this decade, pirates began looking beyond the Caribbean. The Glorious Revolution in England had restored the traditional rivalry between Britain and France and ended the friendship between English Jamaica and French Tortuga.

Post Spanish Succession

From around 1714, various peace treaties ended the War of the Spanish Succession and thousands of men, who had been employed in several European navies found themselves unemployed and looking for ways to make money at the time when cross Atlantic shipping was starting to boom.

This led to a rise in piracy around the Atlantic, the majority of the British names from this time were ex-privateers and included Charles Vane, Samual Bellamy, Benjamin Hornigold and Henry Jennings.

As part of the settlement following the War of the Spanish Succession, the British South Sea Company was awarded a contract to supply slaves to Spain’s colonies and contributed heavily to the rise in piracy in this part of the world. Living conditions and wages at this time were so bad that many sailors preferred the freedom of being a pirate compared to living within the law. Sailors for the Royal Navy often had little to eat and rarely saw their families, which led to many of them deserting the crown and turning to piracy instead. This is one of the reasons why pirates were so well equipped at fighting the navy.

Pirates vs Privateers

During the Golden Age of Piracy, many that undertook piracy were excused of their crimes for being privateers. There are a few differences between the two, however, the name pirate was originally given to buccaneers who operated around the Caribbean when they were paid by the government to attack Spanish ships. Later, they started doing this without the incentive of pay.

Privateers on the other hand were private persons who engaged in maritime warfare under a commission of war, which gave them the authority to raid enemy ships with exemption from piracy charges. Privateers have been in existence since the Middle Ages, when ship owners were given permission to attack in revenge for a loss of their own ships.

The end of piracy

By the 18^th century, tolerance for privateers was wearing thin across the world, especially after the Treaty of Ultrecht, which was the result of the War of the Spanish Succession. The Treaty allowed the British to establish naval superiority in Europe, as well as control of Menorca and Gibraltar, which remains under British ownership.

Best known privateers

A Privateer is a private person who was granted permission to engage in maritime warfare. Many were awarded letters of marque from the monarch or government, which empowered them to attack foreign vessels, seize the goods and then divide the proceeds between themselves, the issuer of the letter, the crew and any sponsors.

Sir Francis Drake
Best known for circumnavigating the world in a single expedition. He would become a favourite of Queen Elizabeth I and was involved in the Spanish and English Armadas.

Sir John Hawkins
Hawkins was an early promoter of the English slave trade and was a cousin of Francis Drake. He served in the victory against the Spanish Armada and was also involved in the English Armada.

Sir George Somers
Somers was knighted for his achievements as part of the Virgina Company of London, he is remembered as the founder of the English colony of Bermuda.

Sir Walter Raleigh
Another of Queen Elizabeth’s favourites, Raleigh was granted a royal charter which allowed him to explore, colonise and rule any land that was not “possessed of any Christian Prince or inhabited by Christian People."

Best known British pirates

Black Sam Bellamy
Known as the Robin hood of Pirates, he prided himself on his ideological justifications for piracy. He was the captain of the Wydah Gally and was lost in a storm off Cape Cod in 1717.

Stede Bonnet
A rich land owner, Bonnet turned to piracy in search of adventure and was captain of the Revenge. He was caught and executed in 1718.

Henry Every
One of the major pirates of the Golden Age of Piracy who actually managed to retire without being arrested or dying in battle. He was known to captain the Ganj-i-Sawai.

William Fly
His execution is said to have ended the Golden Age of Piracy.

William Captain Kid
Supposedly left behind buried treasure that has never been found, he was executed for piracy at Execution Dock in London.

Edward Low
Unlike most pirates, who came from Britain’s coastal towns, Low was born in Westminster. He was never captured but was feared throughout the world for torturing his prisoners.

Henry Morgan
The pirate who was famous for taking Panama City and burning it to the ground. He was supposed to executed but was instead knighted and made governor of Jamaica, you might recognise his name from the brand of rum.

Calico Jack Rackham
Was known for partnering with infamous female pirates Anne Bonny and Mary Read. He was captured and executed in Port Royal, Jamaica.

Black Bart Roberts
Believed to be the most successful western pirate of all time.

Edward Blackbeard Teach
The most notorious pirate, he was best known for captaining the Queen Anne’s Revenge, he was eventually killed by British sailors.

Charles Vane
Unpopular with his crew, Vane was marooned by his fellow pirates before being captured and executed.

Benjamin Hornigold
An English pirate who founded the Republic of Pirates and mentored Blackbeard. He was pardoned by the monarchy and became a pirate hunter.

Anne Bonny and Mary Read
These were the best known female pirates. Bonny had a notorious reputation and eloped with Calico Jack Rackham. Read had been posing as a man her entire life and had even been in the British Military. She joined Rackham’s crew and the three of them had a polyamorous relationship. When they were attacked, both women were captured and sentenced to death but stalled their executions by claiming to be pregnant.

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Kentwell Hall

Address

Kentwell Hall, Long Melford, Suffolk, CO10 9BA

Telephone
01787 310207

enquiries@kentwell.co.uk

Long Melford

We look forward to welcoming you back! In-line with government guidelines we are excited to re-open our gardens; Wednesdays - Sundays. At this time of year, the gardens that extend to over 30 acres, are at their most colourful and fresh and are a…

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Stonehenge and Avebury

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Amesbury, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP4 7DE

Salisbury

The Stonehenge, Avebury and Associated Sites World Heritage Site is internationally important for its complexes of outstanding prehistoric monuments. Stonehenge is the most architecturally sophisticated prehistoric stone circle in the world, while…

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Fairfield House

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Stogursey, Bridgwater, Somerset, TA5 1PU

fairfieldvisits@gmail.com

Bridgwater

Fairfield is a medieval manor house and the family home of the Acland-Hood family for over eight centuries. The first manor house was built as early as 1166. The house has passed numerous times through the female line, so the family name of the…

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Cadhay

Address

Ottery St Mary, Devon, EX11 1QT

Telephone
01404 813511

Rupert.th@googlemail.com

Devon

Cadhay is approached by an avenue of lime-trees, and stands in an extensive garden, with herbaceous borders and yew hedges, with excellent views over the original medieval fish ponds.

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American Museum and Gardens

Address

Claverton, Bath, Somerset, BA2 7BD

Telephone
+44 (0)1225 460503

enquiries@americanmuseum.org

Bath

Located in a Grade I listed building, the American Museum and Gardens features collections from the United States and displays that recreate periods of American history, as well as a world renowned folk art, quilt and map collection.

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Ickworth House, Park and Gardens

Address

The Rotunda, Horringer, Suffolk, IP29 5QE

Telephone
01284 735270

ickworth@nationaltrust.org.uk

Horringer

Ickworth House, Parkland and Gardens is a unique place created from the vision of an eccentric man – Frederick Hervey, the Earl-Bishop; commissioned to be a magnificent showcase to house his priceless treasures within the ancient deer park and…

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Wilton House

Address

Wilton, Salisbury, SP2 0BJ

Telephone
01722 746728

tourism@wiltonhouse.com

Salisbury

Whether you come to stroll in the grounds, watch your children let off steam in the adventure playground, or enjoy the art collection in the House, come and enjoy Wilton House.

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Kelmscott Manor

Address

Kelmscott, Lechlade, Gloucestershire, GL7 3HJ

Telephone
01367 252486

Amanda.stinton@kelmscottmanor.org.uk

Lechlade

Kelmscott Manor was the iconic country home of William Morris; poet, designer, craftsman, socialist and founding father of the Arts and Crafts movement.

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Glynde Place

Address

Glynde Place, Lewes, East Sussex, BN8 6SX

Telephone
+44 (0)1273 858224

info@glynde.co.uk

Lewes

Glynde Place is situated at the top of the village of Glynde and has commanding views over the Weald and Sussex Downs.

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Roman Catholic Cathedral of Our Lady and St Philip Howard (Arundel Cathedral)

Address

Parsons Hill, Arundel, West Sussex, BN18 9AY

Telephone
01903 882297

arundel@abdiocese.org.uk

Arundel

The Cathedral Church for the Catholic Diocese of Arundel and Brighton.
Built on a hill, the Cathedral sits majestically, overlooking the ancient town of Arundel.

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Craigston Castle

Address

Turriff, Aberdeenshire, AB53 5PX

Telephone
01888551707

info@craigston.co.uk

Aberdeenshire

Built in 1604-1607 by John Urquhart Tutor of Cromarty.

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Forth Bridge

Address

South Queensferry, West Lothian, EH30 9SF

South Queensferry

The Forth Bridge, which spans the estuary (Firth) of the River Forth in eastern Scotland to link Fife to Edinburgh by railway, was the world’s earliest great multispan cantilever bridge, and at 2,529 m remains one of the longest. It opened in 1890…

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Tabley House

Address

Tabley Lane, Knutsford, Cheshire, WA16 0HB

Telephone
01565 750151

tableyhouse@btconnect.com

Knutsford

The finest Palladian house in the northwest, Tabley was designed by John Carr of York for the Leicester family. It houses one of the finest collections of English paintings, including works by Turner, Reynolds, Lawrence and Dobson.

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The Landscape Gardens at Wotton House

Address

Wotton Underwood, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, HP18 0SB

Telephone
01844 238363

landscape@wottonhouse.com

Aylesbury

The Capability Brown Pleasure Grounds at Wotton, currently undergoing restoration, are related to the Stowe gardens, both belonging to the Grenville family when Brown laid out the Wotton grounds between 1750 and 1767.

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All Saints' Church, Billesley

Address

Billesley, Stratford Upon Avon, Warwickshire, B49 6NF

jrobertson@thecct.org.uk

Stratford Upon Avon

A light-filled gem with a Shakespearean connection

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Capesthorne Hall

Address

Siddington, Macclesfield, Cheshire, SK11 9JY

Telephone
01625 861221

info@capesthorne.com

Macclesfield

Sculptures, paintings, furniture and family monuments. A Georgian chapel, tearooms, gardens, lakes, nature walks and a touring caravan park.

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Wakefield Lodge

Address

Wakefield Lodge Estate, Potterspury, Towcester, Northamptonshire, NN12 7QX

Telephone
01327 811218

Towcester

The most striking feature of Wakefield Walk was the large expanse of Wakefield Lawn.

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Cortachy Estate

Address

Cortachy, Kirriemuir, Angus, DD8 4LX

Telephone
01575 530387

office@airlieestates.com

Kirriemuir

Countryside walks including access through woodlands to Airlie Monument on Tulloch Hill with spectacular views of the Angus Glens and Vale of Strathmore. Footpaths are waymarked and colour coded.

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Cornwall Garden Society Spring Flower Show

Address

The Estate Office, Boconnoc, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0RG

Telephone
01208 872507

info@boconnoc.com

Lostwithiel

The CGS Spring Flower Show is firmly established as one of the most widely respected flower shows in the UK. It’s also known as one of the most friendly and inclusive shows and as such it attracts exhibitors and visitors from all over the country…

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Giants Causeway

Address

Causeway Road, Bushmills, County Antrim, BT57 8SU

Bushmills

The Giant’s Causeway lies at the foot of the basalt cliffs along the sea coast on the edge of the Antrim plateau in Northern Ireland.

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Golden Age of pirates

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Post Spanish Succession

Pirates vs Privateers

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Best known privateers

Best known British pirates

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