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The History of Maritime Piracy

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

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Welcome in many languages (Source:
                Canstockphoto.com)Cindy Vallar & friend

Welcome aboard Pirates and Privateers, a site devoted to the history of maritime piracy, privateering, and the sea before the Age of Steam.

Within these pages you will find articles dealing with the history and culture of these topics from ancient times to modern day. Click one of the links above or below to explore the treasures within this website.

Newest Article               Newest Book Reviews               Pirate Quote of the Month

News of Note               Events & Activities               Special Resources               The Rebel & the Spy

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                              with Cindy VallarGold and
                              Gunpowder Podcast with Cindy Vallar

Each month, I send out a newsletter about the latest article and reviews posted here. I also include information that doesn't appear at Pirates and Privateers, but is still of interest to adherents of piracy and maritime history. By subscribing to the newsletter, you'll never miss out on the latest happenings here at Pirates and Privateers.

As always, if you have a question about pirates, please write and ask. If there is a particular pirate or subject, you'd like me to write about, let me know.
One cautionary note for those seeking genealogical information: Historical records about pirates are rare. Much of what is known comes from government records, newspaper accounts, and the few contemporary accounts written during a particular period. This information rarely contains details pertinent to what you need to know to identify an ancestor. The simple fact is that the vast majority of pirates' names remain unknown. I cannot answer genealogical questions. Instead, I recommend contacting genealogical depositories and websites, historical societies, and national archives -- places where the librarians and curators are better trained to assist in this type of query.
A special note to teachers and students: 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 with this website is copyrighted.

Cartoon pirate Santa.
                                            Artist: Shutterstock AI
                                            Generator (Source:
https://www.shutterstock.com/image-generated/cartoon-pirate-santa-2521094749)

Have a happy and merry holiday season!

2025 - Banner to
                                                celebrate the New Year
                                                in a nighttime party
                                                atmosphere with
                                                fireworks and sparklers
                                                - French and English.
                                                Artist: ID-EasyDoor
                                                (Source:
https://www.shutterstock.com/image-vector/2025-banner-celebrate-new-year-nighttime-2496081079)


Fair winds and following seas,
Cindy

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(site last updated 6 December 2024)


Pirate Quotes of the Month
I observ’d nothing in him tending to any of the common Vices, too common among Seafareing Men, especially those who have frequented these Parts; to with, Swearing, Drunkenness, Debauchery, &c.

— Captain George Roberts, 1726
a merchant master captured and spent time in the company of
pirates Edward Low and Francis Spriggs


 
Smiley AhoyDecember ArticleSmiley Ahoy Reading pirate smileyDecember ReviewsReading pirate smiley
Eat, Drink, and Be Merry

One of the hardest parts of writing for me is coming up with a title. Sometimes the best one comes when I’m out walking in the early morning when the rest of the world sleeps. That’s what happened this time. Why choose this particular phrase for the title? It best captures the primary facets of pirate life to be discussed, although there are a few twists along the way and what we deem “merry” may not fit a pirate’s definition.


Author’s Note:
While I worked on this article, my father passed away. He shared his affinity for the water and boats with me in my youth, which helped awaken a desire to write about pirates. This article is for him. Now that you are at peace and without pain, Dad, may you eat, drink, and be merry.

My Father
Lee Aker
Rest in peace

Manxmen at Sea in the Age of Nelson, 1760-1815
by Matthew Richardson
History: Navy

Eldorado
by Wayne Savage
Fantasy

British Warship Losses in the Age of Sail, 1649-1860
by David Hepper
Disasters, Mutinies, & Shipwrecks

Blackbeard
by Robert Jacob
Biography: Pirates, Privateers, & Pirate Hunters

The Force of Fate
by Seth Hunter
Nautical Fiction

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Pirate & Maritime News
Events & Activities

Under
                                Construction Sig

Some pages remain in the old style, while others are in the new style. We apologize for this. After twenty-four years, there are many pages to overhaul and this takes time. We appreciate your understanding and patience.

Update: All review pages have been completed. Rather than a front list of all the books in a particular category, reviews have been subdivided into like topics, such as Biography: Pirates and Privateers.

Also completed is a revised Recommended Pirate Links page. Categories have been expanded. Broken links removed. New websites added. There is also a link to a page that explains the ratings given to these links.


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Cover Art: Wreckwatch
                                      Magazine, Summer 2024

If ye be wantin’ to read about pirates, there be no better way than to sneak a peek at the Summer issue of Wreckwatch. ’Tis yours for simply visitin’ their website and addin’ your name to the roll. The first treasure to explore be about a 300-year-old mystery. Your editor, Cindy Vallar, investigates “Who Wrote the First Pirate Blockbuster.” Ye, o’ course, ken she’s wonderin’ just who be Captain Charles Johnson, who put pen to paper to regale us wi’ tales of famous scurvy knaves.


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Voyage to the Deep
Underwater Adventures
Now-12 January 2025
Mystic Seaport Museum
Mystic, Connecticut

Lantern Light Village
6-7, 13-14, 20-22 December 2024
Mystic Seaport Museum
Mystic, Connecticut

Piracy's 'Golden Age' Revisited
Pursuing the Notorious Edward Low
presenter: Len Travers
19 December 2024
at 3 pm Eastern
In-person & Virtual
Colonial Society of Massachusetts
Boston, Massachusetts

Boarded!
A New Pirate Adventure
28 December 2024
Maritime Museum of San Diego
San Diego, California

Children's Gasparilla
18 January 2025
Tampa, Florida

Gasparilla Pirate Festival
25 January 2025
Tampa, Florida

Brick Wrecks
Sunken Ships in LEGO Bricks
8 March - 31 August 2025
The Historic Dockyard Chatham
Chatham, Kent, United Kingdom

Sail 250th New York
4 July 2026
New York City, New York



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Special Resources


The following pages and files contain travel adventures, photo galleries, resources,
and historical data pertaining to pirates, privateers, and maritime history.
I have gathered this information either while doing research or when traveling.

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Fun places for pirates in need of rest & relaxation

Pirate Adventures


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Photo Galleries

Before the Age of Sail

The Age of Sail

Wooden Sailing Ships


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Resources

Barbary Corsairs Resources

Canadian Piracy Resources

Modern Piracy Resources

Pirates & Death

Time Line of History


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Janes Madison, 1816, White House Collection
                      (Source:
                      https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:James_Madison.jpgJean LaffiteDolley
                      Madison by Gilbert Stuart, 1804 (Source:
                      https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dolley_Madison_(cropped).jpg)General Andrew Jackson by John Wesley Jarvis,
                      circa 1819 (Source:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:General_Andrew_Jackson_MET_DT2851.jpg)William C. C. Claiborne, artist unknown, 19th
                      century (Source:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:William_C_C_Claiborne_rectangleLAState.jpg)

The Rebel & the Spy
These five people played roles in the War of 1812. James Madison (far left) was president at the time and, in my current work-in-progress, he has a special assignment for Lucas Burnett, one of the protagonists in the novel. Jean Laffite (beside Madison) operates a smuggling operation, based on barrier islands southwest of New Orleans. One of his captains, is Dominique You, whose sister Alexine has been raised in this nefarious world of smugglers, pirates, privateers, and cutthroats. Dolley Madison is the country's presidentress (first lady) and plays a vital role in preserving some of our national treasures during the British invasion of Washington City. General Andrew Jackson (second from right) has no intention of allowing the British to gain entry to the United States through its back door (the Mississippi). Governor William C. C. Claiborne (far right) is Lucas's cousin and a constant thorn in Laffite's side. They come together within the pages of The Rebel & the Spy, a historical novel where it's not always easy to decide who is the rebel and who is the spy.

The links below are to a gallery of places depicted in my novel and a resource list for those seeking information on the people pictured above, pirates, ships in the age of sail, the Battle of New Orleans, the invasion and burning of Washington, the bombardment of Fort McHenry, and much more. (Please note that these pages are updated from time to time, so check back to see what's been added.) I hope you enjoy.

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Pirates & Privateers Newsletter

Each month I alert readers to the posting of the latest piracy article and book reviews, new additions made to the website, and interesting maritime tidbits. If you would like to receive the monthly Pirates & Privateers Newsletter, send me an e-mail with SUBSCRIBE in the subject line.

If you're not sure, here's a sample newsletter to read. I hope you enjoy!


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 your e-mail address and forgot to notify me of the change. Contact me and we will try to resolve 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. You're welcome to resubscribe if that occurs.


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Copyright ©2023
Cindy Vallar

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