Pirates (not the VC Type)

Pirates of the Caribbean has been a popular Disney ride since I was a kid and now has become a series of popular movies (Jack Sparrow, the Black Pearl, etc). I never fully appreciated the history behind the title until coming down here on vacation.

To begin with, I did not understand that there are two types: Pirates and Privateers. Privateers sailed privately owned boats but were commissioned by their governments to pillage enemy ships and were allowed to keep a fixed percentage of the spoils. Pirates, on the other hand, raided all ships with impunity and were criminals across all countries.

Piracy reached its zenith in the late 1600’s and early 1700’s as Spanish galleons, loaded with treasure from conquests in Latin America, headed home to Spain along the Caribbean route. The standard cruise stops of Cayman, Jamaica, Cozumel, the Bahamas and such were all favorite pirate havens with the expected lawless environs typified in the movies.

Captain Henry Morgan started as a Privateer based out of Port Royal in Jamaica who mercilessly raided Spanish ships “on behalf” of the English crown. He was eventually knighted by King Charles II and made lieutinent governor of Jamaica. He was one of the few to meet an orderly death (of old age).

Edward Teach (alias Blackbeard) was another story. He originally started off as a Privateer around 1715 on behalf of England. You can still visit the remains of his castle in St Thomas which he often used as a lookout for approaching ships. However, he soon decided to go off on his own, working out of a base in North Carolina, plundering ships coming up the coast. He died in battle with the British Navy and had his head mounted on a bowsprit as a warning to others. (I have seen VC’s treated so in bad investments).

Piracy was an equal opportunity employer with Mary Read and Anne Bonny both enjoyed initial success (in disguise) as pirates. Unfortunately, Read was captured and died of fever in prison, so it did not take off as a favored career for young ladies.

And I thought software piracy was a racy topic…