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
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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
(Site updated
21 November 2013)
 December Articles
Born
into England’s aristocracy, Henry
Mainwaring loved the sea. A journey to the Mediterranean led him to
forsake
family and position to become a pirate. His success as a Barbary
corsair gained
him wealth, notoriety, and many offers of pardons. Throughout this
career, he remained
loyal to his king, James I of England.
Pirate
Quote of the Month
America
can certainly not pretend to wage a
maritime war with us. She has no navy to do it with. But America has
nearly
100,000 as good seamen as any in the world, all of whom would be
actively
employed against our trade on every part of the ocean in their
fast-sailing
ships-of-war, many of whom will be able to cope with our smaller
cruisers; and
they will be found to be sweeping in the West Indian seas, and even
carrying
desolation into the chops of the Channel. Everyone must recollect what
they did
in the latter part of the American war. The books at Lloyd’s will
recount it;
and the rate of assurances at that time will clearly prove what their
diminutive strength was able to effect in the face of our navy, and
that when
nearly one hundred pendants were flying on their coast. Were we then
able to
prevent their going in and going out, or stop them from taking our
trade and
our ships, even in sight of our garrisons? . . . The Americans will
be
found to be a different sort of enemy by sea than the French. They
possess
nautical knowledge, with equal enterprise to ourselves. They will be
found
attempting deeds which a Frenchman would never think of; and they will
have all
the ports of the enemy open, in which they can make their retreat and
their
booty.
– Editors
of the Statesman on American privateers
should Britain and the United
States wage war (War of 1812)
|
The Bonnie Bookaneer's
 December Book Reviews
Blackbeard
by Craig
Cabell, Graham A. Thomas, and Allan Richards
History
(18th century)
Ships of Oak
Guns of Iron by Ronald D. Utt
History, Naval
History, War of 1812
|
Upcoming
Appearances
 |
If you would like the Pirate Lady
to speak to your group,
please contact
me.
For information on upcomings workshops,
click
here.
|
For additonal appearances, visit Thistles
& Pirates.
Pirate and
Maritime News
Pirates
Invade Ocracoke
Blackbeard and other
pirates returned to Ocracoke Island recently for the first annual
Blackbeard Jamboree.
Scaring
Off Pirates
Somali pirates may like
music, but not the songs of Britney Spears. That makes her music a good
tool in the fight against piracy.
Divers have brought up two-years' worth of treasure from a
sunken galleon that were supposed to be placed in the governor's
mansion on Hispaniola. The find is as significant as that of the Mary Rose.
It's History Podcasts is
a newcomer to sites that offer quality historical information on the
web. The founders, amateur historians, focus on modern history around
the world from the late 18th century through the Cold War. In addition
to the 28-minute podcasts, they also publish a blog and magazine. I'm
pleased to announce that with the publication of my article, "Jean
Laffite - Enigma, Legend. American hero?, on their blog, they will
republish some of my piracy articles on the blog and in their magazine,
History Is Now. I will
also be writing new pirate-related articles that will only appear in
their magazine. I hope you enjoy visiting, reading, and listening to
all the material that they offer.
|
Pirate
Trails
The International
Criminal Police Organization, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime,
and World Bank have released a study on pirate finances, analyzing the
amounts collected in ransom payments, how the money is distributed, who
received these funds, and how they are invested.
The
Last Ship
Sting
returns to his roots to
create a new musical about fathers, sons, and the shipyard. It’s
inspired the
Swan Hunter shipyard, which closed at Wallsend, England in 2006. The
CSS Acadia, which was built there 100 years
ago, is now at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic in Halifax, Nova
Scotia. The Last Ship will open in Chicago next
summer, before going to Broadway.
|
Pirate &
Maritine Events & Exhibits
 Visitors'
Reviews
I
found your website and really enjoyed its content. -- Bill Stewart
|
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
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.
Pirates
and Privateers
