Pirates in the Caribbean- Captain Edward "Blackbeard" Teach

Captain Edward “Blackbeard” Teach (1680-1718)

An English Pirate, Blackbeard began his career on privateers sailing in the Caribbean during the War of Spanish Succession. He worked his way through the ranks of sailors and was given his command when his former Captain retired.

He chose pirating over privateering and earned a reputation for cruelty attacking the Atlantic Coast and West Indies.

He was 6’ 4” and noted for weaving hemp into his beard and lighting it aflame during battle. He is depicted in paintings as having numerous weapons of all kinds on him and is the archetypical pirate.

He kept his headquarters in the Bahamas and the Carolinas and was eventually brought down with a detachment of the English Navy sent from Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Maryland.

He died in combat after being shot 5 times, stabbed more than 20 and finally beheaded.