Revealed: Most Notorious Pirates Throughout History

Pirates have been around for centuries, making a living by attacking ships at sea or raiding coastal towns. This practice dates back to at least 1400 B.C. and surprisingly, it still exists today. In the year 2021, there have been numerous reports of piracy happening all over the world, from Peru to Guinea to the Philippines.

However, it’s important to note that there was a time when pirates were even more prevalent and had a significant impact on global trade and the establishment of colonies. During this period, they constantly threatened powerful navies and caused quite a stir in the world.

The Golden Age of Piracy, which lasted from the mid-17th century to the early 18th century, was a time when Spanish ships and colonies in the Western Atlantic and Caribbean were frequently attacked by pirates, and trade routes in the Red Sea, Indian Ocean, and West African coast were also targeted. This era saw the emergence of some of the most notorious pirates in history. To provide a comprehensive list of these infamous figures, CEOWORLD magazine has compiled information from various reliable sources.

It’s fascinating to learn that a significant number of individuals who started their careers as privateers – captains whom their government granted permission to capture enemy merchant ships – eventually turned to attacking any ship carrying valuable goods that they deemed worthy of being plundered. As they gained more experience in their profession, they broadened their targets from enemy ships and ports to include any other ships carrying valuable goods.

Even though many of these pirates lived long and prosperous lives, their fates were often gruesome. Some met their end in fierce battles, struck down by cannonballs. Others were caught and punished for their crimes, while some perished at sea as their ships sank, weighed down by the precious treasures they had acquired.

1. The Barbarossa Brothers
   > Lifespan: 1470s -1518 [Oruç] -1546 [Hizir]
2. Sir Francis Drake
   > Lifespan: 1540-1596
3. L’Olonnais
   > Lifespan: 1635-1668
4. Henry Morgan
   > Lifespan: 1635-1688
5. Henry Every
   > Lifespan: 1653-1696
6. Captain Kidd
   > Lifespan: 1654-1701
7. Thomas Tew
   > Lifespan: Unknown-1690
8. Edward “Blackbeard” Teach
   > Lifespan: 1680-1718
9. Benjamin Hornigold
   > Lifespan: 1680-1719
10. Charles Vane
    > Lifespan: 1680-1721
11. Calico Jack
    > Lifespan: 1682-1720
12. Bartholomew “Black Bart” Roberts
    > Lifespan: 1682-1722
13. Stede Bonnet
    > Lifespan: 1688-1719
14. Samuel Bellamy
    > Lifespan: 1689-1717
15. Howell Davis
    > Lifespan: 1690-1719
16. Edward Low
    > Lifespan: 1690-1723
17. Black Caesar
    > Lifespan: Unknown-1718
18. Anne Bonny
    > Lifespan: 1700-unknown
19. Madame Cheng
    > Lifespan: 1775-1844
20. Jean Lafitte
    > Lifespan: 1780(?) – 1825(?)
21. Cheung Po Tsai
    > Lifespan: 1783-1822
22. Pedro Gilbert
    > Lifespan: 1800-1835

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