Interesting Questions, Facts, and Information

Pirates

Jean Lafitte was a pirate who provided assistance to America in what war?

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War of 1812. Specifically, the Battle of New Orleans.

Francis Drake was a buccaneer who led a colorful life. Which statement is NOT true of him?

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Drake's memoirs created a scandal when published after his death. Quite a life - but no memoirs.

The flag that sailed atop many pirate ships was called what?

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Jolly Roger. Skull and crossbones

'Blackbeard' is also one of the most famous pirates. What was his real name?

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Edward Teach. Maynard is the officer who killed Blackbeard

Perhaps the most famous pirate of all is Captain Kidd. What was his ultimate fate?

Pirates!

He was hanged. Kidd met the fate of many pirates - the business end of a rope

What was the British Royal Navy's "ultimate pirate buster" ship called?

Lady Pirates and Pirate History

The Swallow . Bartholomew Roberts sailed into battle against this ship and got shot in the neck. He was either very brave, or very stupid, or both.

What part of the ship was Blackbeard's head suspended from?

Lady Pirates and Pirate History

bowsprit . When the navies made the ocean safe people began to forget about pirates' "murderous ways". Writers turned pirates from thieves to heroes, but some tell true pirate stories.

Which ship was Blackbeard's head suspended from?

Lady Pirates and Pirate History

HMS Ranger . Piracy stayed for 5,000 years but was finally ended in the 19th century. By 1850 only a few small bands of pirates were left.

How much did the manacles that William Kidd wore in 1699 at a Boston jail weigh?

Lady Pirates and Pirate History

16 lbs. Kidd was hanged twice in 1701 because the first rope snapped. They covered his body in tar to make it last so it could serve as a warning to all seamen.

Were all pirate flags black and white?

Lady Pirates and Pirate History

no. One flag that was all red meant death to all that saw it and that the pirates would show no mercy in the battle.

Did pirates all use the skull and crossbones for their flag design?

Lady Pirates and Pirate History

no. Pirates of an island in the Bahamas had their flags made by a sail-maker's widow who took payment in brandy. Blackbeard a.k.a Edward Teach (or Thatcher) had his own personal flag.

Was Charlotte De Berry a pirate?

Lady Pirates and Pirate History

yes. Despite her French name she was born in England in 1636. Her pirate career began when she led a mutiny against a cruel captain and cut off his head. Once when she and her crew were starving they killed two slaves, and her husband too, so they could eat them. She was very active off the coast of West Africa.

Were there female pirates?

Lady Pirates and Pirate History

Yes. Women could only be pirates if they dressed, fought, and swore like men. It is thought that many who managed that are unknown because they were disguised so well.

What was the real name of the famous pirate "Blackbeard"?

Do You Know Pirates ?

Edward Thatch/Teach. Edward Thatch (aka Teach) was nicknamed for his phenomenal beard. He became a pirate after capturing a French warship in 1717.

There were many positions aboard a ship. One of them was assigned to small boys who had to clean and load the guns during battle. They were known by what name?

Buccaneer Pirates

powder-monkeys. The powder monkeys were eventually promoted to gunner's mate or gunner. That is if they survived! Another job was given to young boys aboard a ship. If they did not become powder monkeys they would become cabin boys. They would do basically any little jobs needing doing aboard the ship.

A common alchoholic drink drunk by the pirates was a rum, water,lemon juice and sugar mixture. What was the name given to this drink?

Buccaneer Pirates

grog. Grog is the name given to the alcoholic drink of pirates. It is derived from a nickname for an admiral who liked to drink. Caulker is a stiff glass taken when a drinking bout ends. Oggins is another name for the sea. Belayis a word meaning "stop that" or "shut up".

Pirates had to make port sometimes and they had havens where it was safe for a pirate to go without being arrested. What was the biggest pirate haven during the golden age of piracy until an earthquake destroyed it? (Hint: it was in Jamaica)

Buccaneer Pirates

Port Royal. Port Royal was described as "the wickedest city on earth". It was destroyed in 1692 when an earthquake hit, but was swiftly rebuilt. This time it had a stronger governor and a naval influence, this ensured that the pirates would not return. Instead they moved to places like Nassau, Tortuga and Charlestown.

Chinese pirates tended to favour a certain type of ship. What was it?

Buccaneer Pirates

junk. The junk was a small vessel favoured mainly by Asian pirates. This ship could carry up to 15 cannons. The other names are all other types of ship used and favoured by pirates and sailors during the golden age of piracy.

What year is the first recorded time that the "Jolly Rodger" (skull and crossbones) flag was flown on a pirate vessel?

Buccaneer Pirates

1700. The Jolly Rodger is recorded to have first been flown in the year 1700. It was not actually usually the black background with white skull, typical flag we think of today. It was usually a red flag and sometimes had a skull emblem on it. The Jolly Rodger is believed to have come from the medieval Knights Templar. They flew a red flag with crossbones on it and when they took up the life of piracy they used the same flag.

A certain activity that pirates enjoyed was not allowed aboard most ships. Whenever the ship made port they would get involved in it. What was this activity?

Buccaneer Pirates

gambling. Gambling was strictly forbidden aboard most pirate vessels and whenever they made port the crew loved to spend their profits on gambling. They also liked drinking and card games, of course. If they were caught gambling on board then they would be severely punished.

When you think of Pirates you think of the Caribbean, white sand beaches, tall ships, brave captains and tricorn hats. This idea comes from the "golden age of piracy". When was this?

Buccaneer Pirates

1660-1730. The "golden age of piracy" was between 1660 and 1730. At this time piracy was common in the Caribbean seas because of the growing trade there.

The most famous and extensive pirates in medieval Europe were the Vikings, warriors and looters from Scandinavia. Which period in history is often referred to as the "Viking Age"?

History of Pirates

8 -11 Century. Vikings were warriors on ships, pirates and traders who originated in Scandinavia. They raided the British, Irish and European coasts from late 8th to 11th century. This period is called the Viking Age.

Which pirates captured the Mughal ship Fateh Muhammed in 1694?

History of Pirates

Thomas Tew and Henry Every. The biggest loot of Henry Every's career was the Gang-i-Sawai. It was a part of the Moghul of India's convoy of ships. Gang-i-Sawai and Fateh Muhammed were the two ships that could be captured.

Which Portuguese vessel did the pirates John Taylor and Olivier La Bouche capture at Reunion Island, robbing the ex-Viceroy of Goa of diamonds and rare oriental treasures worth more than ?800,000?

History of Pirates

Nostra Senhora do Cabo. Nostra Senhora do Cabo means "The Virgin of the Cape" or more literally "Our Lady of the Cape".

The Wokou pirates of East Asia first appeared in the 13th century, with a pirate raid in Korea. To which East Asian country did they originally belong?

History of Pirates

Japan. Wokou means "Japanese Bandits". They raided the coasts of China and Korea. Their nationalities included Chinese, Korean and Portuguese. Many of their leaders - Pirate Kings were Chinese.

Which buccaneer led the expedition across the Pacific coasts, recorded by Basil Ringrose?

History of Pirates

Bartholomew Sharp. Ringrose wrote an elaborate, revealing account of the adventure of the buccaneers across the Isthmus of Panama. This journal later became a part of Alexander Esquemelin's "Buccaneers of America".

The city of Port Royal was famous for "Gallows Point" where numerous pirates were hanged. On which Caribbean Island is Port Royal?

The True Pirates of The Caribbean

Jamaica. Port Royal is situated in Jamaica opposite Kingston in the same harbor. Gallows Point was one of the first points of land visible when entering the port. The gallows were placed there conspicuously to discourage piracy. The bodies were left there after they were hanged. Calico Jack and Captain Vane were among the many pirates hanged there during a 100-year span.

How did the term "Buccaneer" originate?

The True Pirates of The Caribbean

Because of the way the sailors cooked.. The English and French who began to settle on the island of Hispa?ola around 1630 became known as buccaneers because they cooked their food on open fires known as buccans. The Spanish believed they could force the buccaneers to leave by removing their food supply so they sent hunters to slaughter the wild pigs that were their primary source of food. With the pigs gone many buccaneers were forced to resort to piracy in order to survive.

Which pirate captain refused amnesty and fled The Bahamas, but was marooned after failing to capture a French Man-o-War?

The True Pirates of The Caribbean

Captain Charles Vane. During the height of his career Vane made a critical error in judgment. Vane and his crew happened upon a French Man-O-War and Vane chose not to attack the well-armed ship, figuring its plunder was not worth the risk. His crew was outraged and Vane was put in a small sloop and cast adrift. Through a variety of circumstances Vane continued his pirate endeavors but eventually ended up on a ship where the Captain happened to know of him and took him to Port Royal to be hanged. Captain Rosier commanded the British sloop "HMS Swallow." Captain Kidd prowled Madagascar and Captain Kangaroo...well that's another quiz.

Which pirate was known for merely stealing the loot and leaving?

The True Pirates of The Caribbean

Red Legs Greaves. Greaves' greatest success was his capture of the Island of Margarita. After capturing the Spanish Fleet, he turned the guns of their warships against the forts which he then stormed and was rewarded with a huge booty of pearls and gold. He didn't sack the town or rape and torture the Spaniards. Greaves then retired to the life of a planter in the island of Nevis. One of his former victims turned him in for the bounty on his head. He was quickly tried and sentenced to be hanged. When the great earthquake came that destroyed the town in 1680 he was one of the few survivors. Greaves then turned pirate hunter, retired to a plantation and died of old age. He got the nickname "Red Legs" because his legs continually burned from the tropic sun.

Which former privateer became governor of The Bahamas and is credited with driving the pirates from the islands?

The True Pirates of The Caribbean

. Rogers was appointed Governor-in-Chief over the Bahama Islands by King George I on February 6, 1718. After he became governor he offered the "King's Pardon", which gave amnesty to most of the pirates in the isles. The most notorious and powerful pirates were not granted the amnesty and were hunted down and killed. It was Wo