Pirates and Privateers
The History of Maritime Piracy

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

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Within these pages of Pirates & Privateers, you'll find articles on all aspects of maritime piracy from ancient times to modern day. Pirate Articles is an annotated list of all the articles I've written. Pirate Links is an annotated list of the best web sites that specialize in piracy and life at sea from early days through the Age of Sail. The Book Review pages house the reviews on the latest fiction and non-fiction pirate and maritime books for children and adults. Other highlights include specialized bibliographies, piratical places to visit, pirate dates in history, piracy quotes, and information about The Rebel and the Spy, my current novel-in-progress that started me on the path of piracy.

If you'd like to be notified when I post a new article, as well as to read the latest pirate-related news that doesn't appear here, subscribe to the Pirates and Privateers Newsletter. If you'd like to read a sample of my newsletter before you subscribe, click here. Subscribers never miss out on the latest happenings at Pirates and Privateers.

As always, if you have a question about pirates, please write and ask. If you'd like me to write about a particular pirate or subject, let me know. One cautionary note to those searching for genealogical information. Historical records about pirates are rare. Much of what is known comes from government records, including court trials, and the few first-person accounts written during a particular time period. This information rarely contains details pertinent to what you need to identify and/or learn about ancestors. The simple fact is that the vast majority of pirates' names remain unknown. I cannot answer this type of question, so rather than contact me, you should check genealogical depositories and websites, as well as national archives.

A special note to teachers and students: Answering questions and locating information is something I love to do. 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 within this website is copyrighted.

Fair winds and following seas,

Cindy

also known as The Pirate Lady

 

Click banner to listen to my interview

 

(Site updated 18 April 2021)

May Article Henry Every and the East India Company England's East India Company complained about pirate-infested Madagascar in 1706. According to his Review of the State of the British Nation, Daniel Defoe feared the pirates might "form a Nation, a State, at War with all the World" and urged the government to nip that possibility in the bud. Such fears weren't new. Two prior major incidents had already shown the EIC just how dangerous these sea marauders were to its future on the subcontinent of India. The first of these caused a media sensation and made one man a legend in his own time. His name was Henry Every. Part two looks at what happened after Every attacked two pilgrim ships, one of which belonged to a wealthy Indian merchant. The other vessel was the emperor's flagship.   Pirate Quote of the Month Their last piracy was . . . the greatest in itself, and like to be the most pernicious in its consequences, especially as to trade, considering the power of the Great Moghul, and the natural inclination of the Indians to revenge: But they are now brought hither on their trial, and if the matters they are charged with shall be proved, to receive that judgement from you, [that] their crime deserves; and that is piracy . . . . For suffer pirates, and the commerce of the world must cease, which this nation has deservedly so great a share in, and reaps such mighty advantage by: And if they shall go away unpunished . . . the consequences may be, to involve the nations concerned, in war and blood, to the destruction of the innocent English in those countries, the total loss of the Indian trade, and thereby, the impoverishment of this kingdom. -- Dr. Newton, King's Counsel during the trial of Henry Every's men in 1696

The Bonnie Bookaneer's May Book Reviews The Life and Tryals of the Gentleman Pirate, Major Stede Bonnet by Jeremy R. Moss Biography The Trafalgar Chronicle New Series 5 edited by Judith E. Pearon, Sean Heuvel, and John Rodgaard History Bound for the East Indies by Andrew Norman History, 18th century From Captives to Consuls by Brett Goodin History Tell No Tales by Sam Maggs and Kendra Wells Historical Fantasy, Graphic Novel

Upcoming Appearances

	If you would like the Pirate Lady  to speak to your group, please contact me. For information on upcoming workshops, click here.

For additional appearances, visit Thistles & Pirates.

 
 
Pirate and Maritime News

Pirating Pups Tyche Books has a put out a call for submissions for an upcoming anthology. The publisher seeks stories about pirating dogs. This will be the first in a series and the pups should be adventure-loving dogs. They can be sailors, submariners, explorers, Vikings, pirates, and other maritime professions. Stories should have excitement, drama, treasure, sword fights, new worlds, and dogs. Submissions open 1 October 2021. See Tyche Books website for additional information.

Pirate & Maritime Events, Exhibits, & Courses

Events In light of Covid-19, please check with the venues to make certain events and museums are open and have not been cancelled or postponed. History on Tap with the Nao Santa Maria and 1877 Elissa 1 May 2021 Galveston Historic Seaport Galveston, Texas 2021 National Maritime Awards Show 6 May 2021 Live Online Event Pirate Day in the Bay 14 & 15 May 2021 Bay St. Louis, Mississippi

Exhibits, Courses, & Performances Come Aboard! Pirates or Privateers? New Permanent Exhibit Pointe-À-Callière Montreal, Canada

Visitors' Reviews Thank you for maintaining such an informative and helpful website on pirates. Your website . . .  provides such an excellent support for those wanting to learn more about this fascinating subject. -- Michael Knapp, OLLI at University of Virginia

The Articles

Being a Pirate (or How to be one)
History of Piracy
Modern Piracy
Notorious Pirates (or Who was who)
Piracy Around the World
Pirates and Literature
Privateers
Wooden Sailing Ships

The Links

Activities for Young Pirates
Archaeology
Education
Exotic Ports of Call
History
Modern-day Piracy
Notorious Pirates
Pirate Literature
Piratical Books Online
Ships and Sailing
Treasure Troves
 

The Bookaneer

Latest Reviews
Five-Star Reviews
Books for Young Pirates
Books for Apprenticed Pirates and Young Adults
Fiction Books for Adults
Nonfiction Books for Adults
 

Special Resources

Pirate Adventures  and Pirates Adventures 2010 and Pirates Adventures 2017
Fun places for pirates in need of rest & relaxation
(Updated April 2017)

The Age of Sail
Examines merchant ships, maritime commerce, and seaports

Before the Age of Sail
Examines ships prior to the seventeenth century

Barbary Corsairs Resources
Articles, books, and web sites on the Barbary Corsairs

Canadian Piracy Resources
Articles, books, and web sites on piracy and privateering in Canada

Modern Piracy Resources
Articles, books, and web sites on piracy today
(Updated March 2021)

Pirates and Death
(PDF chart listing pirates and how they died)
(Updated February 2021)
 
Piratical Dates
Events in history related to pirates and the world in general
(Updated April 2021)

Pyrate Surgeons Resources
Articles, books, and web sites on pyrate surgeons and medicine at sea in the Age of Sail

Wooden Sailing Ships
Inside look at a wooden ship

Pirates and Privateers Site Map
 

The majority of the artwork on these pages is copyrighted by the artists.
To obtain permission for their use please go to ClipArt.com.

The backgrounds used on Pirates and Privateers are from WebGround.
 
 

The Rebel and the Spy

The Rebel and the Spy, my current Novel-in-Progress, centers around Jean Laffite and the Battle of New Orleans.  Below are links to places depicted in the novel and a resource list for those seeking information on Jean Laffite, Pirates, Ships in the Age of Sail, the Battle of New Orleans, Andrew Jackson, and many other subjects.

Jean Laffite's Haunts

New Orleans and Piracy Resource List
(Updated October 2020)
 

Each month I alert readers to the posting of my latest piracy article and book reviews, new additions made to the site, and interesting tidbits about piracy. If you'd like to receive the Pirates and Privateers monthly newsletter, just complete the form below.

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 e-mail addresses and forgot to notify me of the change.  Contact me and we'll try to solve 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.

Copyright © 2000-2018 Cindy Vallar

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