drink up me hearties yo ho welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re counting
watchmojo.com and today we’re counting
watchmojo.com and today we’re counting down our picks for the top 10 most
down our picks for the top 10 most
down our picks for the top 10 most famous pirates in history for this list
famous pirates in history for this list
famous pirates in history for this list we’re defining piracy as crimes and
we’re defining piracy as crimes and
we’re defining piracy as crimes and violence at sea however we will also
violence at sea however we will also
violence at sea however we will also include some historical figures that
include some historical figures that
include some historical figures that were officially privateers that is they
were officially privateers that is they
were officially privateers that is they were exactly the same as pirates but the
were exactly the same as pirates but the
were exactly the same as pirates but the government sanctioned their actions
government sanctioned their actions
government sanctioned their actions making them legitimate acts of war as
making them legitimate acts of war as
making them legitimate acts of war as opposed to criminal offenses while
opposed to criminal offenses while
opposed to criminal offenses while pirates and privateers were technically
pirates and privateers were technically
pirates and privateers were technically different the line between them was
different the line between them was
different the line between them was often blurred and what one country would
often blurred and what one country would
often blurred and what one country would call an honorable privateer another
call an honorable privateer another
call an honorable privateer another would call a bloodthirsty pirate ready
number 10 Sir Henry Morgan Florida
number 10 Sir Henry Morgan Florida though he was actually a British
though he was actually a British
though he was actually a British privateer Sir Henry Morgan was such a
privateer Sir Henry Morgan was such a
privateer Sir Henry Morgan was such a fearsome and successful raider that the
fearsome and successful raider that the
fearsome and successful raider that the Spanish called him a pirate throughout
Spanish called him a pirate throughout
Spanish called him a pirate throughout his career he attacked ships all through
his career he attacked ships all through
his career he attacked ships all through the Caribbean and eventually fought in
the Caribbean and eventually fought in
the Caribbean and eventually fought in an epic battle to capture Panama City
an epic battle to capture Panama City
an epic battle to capture Panama City commanding 1200 Buccaneers and 30 ships
commanding 1200 Buccaneers and 30 ships
commanding 1200 Buccaneers and 30 ships nobody had the capacity except Morgan to
nobody had the capacity except Morgan to
nobody had the capacity except Morgan to rally everybody in the Caribbean and say
rally everybody in the Caribbean and say
rally everybody in the Caribbean and say we’re gonna go after not a little
we’re gonna go after not a little
we’re gonna go after not a little village not a little town not a little
village not a little town not a little
village not a little town not a little Perl boat we’re gonna go after the big
Perl boat we’re gonna go after the big
Perl boat we’re gonna go after the big time the battle led Morgan to be
time the battle led Morgan to be
time the battle led Morgan to be arrested and dragged back to England but
arrested and dragged back to England but
arrested and dragged back to England but the British king reacted by knighting
the British king reacted by knighting
the British king reacted by knighting him and making him deputy governor of
him and making him deputy governor of
him and making him deputy governor of Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica arise Sir Henry Morgan we are most
arise Sir Henry Morgan we are most
arise Sir Henry Morgan we are most pleased you will be our
pleased you will be our
pleased you will be our in Jamaica number 9 Mary read Mary read
in Jamaica number 9 Mary read Mary read
in Jamaica number 9 Mary read Mary read to my mum and then I called friends but
to my mum and then I called friends but
to my mum and then I called friends but not a word of it to anyone or all on
not a word of it to anyone or all on
not a word of it to anyone or all on mine you as well at a time when women
mine you as well at a time when women
mine you as well at a time when women were seen as little more than property
were seen as little more than property
were seen as little more than property Mary read wasn’t gonna let that stop her
Mary read wasn’t gonna let that stop her
Mary read wasn’t gonna let that stop her being used to dressing up as a boy for
being used to dressing up as a boy for
being used to dressing up as a boy for various reasons throughout her childhood
various reasons throughout her childhood
various reasons throughout her childhood read disguised herself as a male to join
read disguised herself as a male to join
read disguised herself as a male to join the British military and built a
the British military and built a
the British military and built a reputation for herself as fierce and
reputation for herself as fierce and
reputation for herself as fierce and skilled in battle when peacetime stilted
skilled in battle when peacetime stilted
skilled in battle when peacetime stilted her life in the military read quit and
her life in the military read quit and
her life in the military read quit and became a pirate instead well more like
became a pirate instead well more like
became a pirate instead well more like she was forced to after the ship she
she was forced to after the ship she
she was forced to after the ship she boarded was captured you see no threat
boarded was captured you see no threat
boarded was captured you see no threat not yeah you’re a woman I am but from
not yeah you’re a woman I am but from
not yeah you’re a woman I am but from then on she sailed fought and drank as
then on she sailed fought and drank as
then on she sailed fought and drank as hard as the male pirates pretty hardcore
hard as the male pirates pretty hardcore
hard as the male pirates pretty hardcore for a 17th century girl
for a 17th century girl
for a 17th century girl number 8 huzzah lulu-nee Jean David no
number 8 huzzah lulu-nee Jean David no
number 8 huzzah lulu-nee Jean David no known as Francois la Luna was a true
known as Francois la Luna was a true
known as Francois la Luna was a true pirate of the Caribbean vicious and
pirate of the Caribbean vicious and
pirate of the Caribbean vicious and sadistic he didn’t limit himself to
sadistic he didn’t limit himself to
sadistic he didn’t limit himself to raiding ships no he was most successful
raiding ships no he was most successful
raiding ships no he was most successful at pillaging towns they say he ate a
at pillaging towns they say he ate a
at pillaging towns they say he ate a Spanish soldiers heart straight from his
Spanish soldiers heart straight from his
Spanish soldiers heart straight from his chest but what goes around comes around
chest but what goes around comes around
chest but what goes around comes around and eventually he met a deaf even more
and eventually he met a deaf even more
and eventually he met a deaf even more gruesome than the ones he dished out he
gruesome than the ones he dished out he
gruesome than the ones he dished out he and his crew were captured and eaten by
and his crew were captured and eaten by
and his crew were captured and eaten by a cannibalistic tribe in Panama number 7
a cannibalistic tribe in Panama number 7
a cannibalistic tribe in Panama number 7 Samuel Bellamy oh that’s right
Samuel Bellamy oh that’s right
Samuel Bellamy oh that’s right pirate of the year again black Sam
pirate of the year again black Sam
pirate of the year again black Sam Bellamy wasn’t just a pirate he was a
Bellamy wasn’t just a pirate he was a
Bellamy wasn’t just a pirate he was a romantic he started out as a poor sailor
romantic he started out as a poor sailor
romantic he started out as a poor sailor but when he fell in love with the
but when he fell in love with the
but when he fell in love with the beautiful Maria Hallett he turned to
beautiful Maria Hallett he turned to
beautiful Maria Hallett he turned to piracy in the hopes that riches would
piracy in the hopes that riches would
piracy in the hopes that riches would win her parents over but Maria’s parents
win her parents over but Maria’s parents
win her parents over but Maria’s parents were weary of Bellamy’s ability to earn
were weary of Bellamy’s ability to earn
were weary of Bellamy’s ability to earn a decent living
a decent living
a decent living so in Bellamy heard of sunken Spanish
so in Bellamy heard of sunken Spanish
so in Bellamy heard of sunken Spanish treasure in Florida he set sail with
treasure in Florida he set sail with
treasure in Florida he set sail with hopes of returning as a respected and
hopes of returning as a respected and
hopes of returning as a respected and rich captain even when he crossed over
rich captain even when he crossed over
rich captain even when he crossed over to the wrong side of the law he was
to the wrong side of the law he was
to the wrong side of the law he was never a violent bloodthirsty Buccaneer
never a violent bloodthirsty Buccaneer
never a violent bloodthirsty Buccaneer he once captured a slave ship and
he once captured a slave ship and
he once captured a slave ship and proceeded to free the slaves giving them
proceeded to free the slaves giving them
proceeded to free the slaves giving them the option to join his crew if they
the option to join his crew if they
the option to join his crew if they wanted number six and Bonnie and Bonnie
wanted number six and Bonnie and Bonnie
wanted number six and Bonnie and Bonnie was only around 16 when she ran away
was only around 16 when she ran away
was only around 16 when she ran away with her pirate lover the infamous
with her pirate lover the infamous
with her pirate lover the infamous Calico Jack while still married to
Calico Jack while still married to
Calico Jack while still married to small-time pirate James Bonnie dressed
small-time pirate James Bonnie dressed
small-time pirate James Bonnie dressed as a man she terrorized the Caribbean at
as a man she terrorized the Caribbean at
as a man she terrorized the Caribbean at his side having divorced her husband and
his side having divorced her husband and
his side having divorced her husband and married her new lover she was apparently
married her new lover she was apparently
married her new lover she was apparently more bloodthirsty and better at holding
more bloodthirsty and better at holding
more bloodthirsty and better at holding her liquor than most of the crew which
her liquor than most of the crew which
her liquor than most of the crew which included the previously mentioned Mary
included the previously mentioned Mary
included the previously mentioned Mary Reed though they were eventually
Reed though they were eventually
Reed though they were eventually arrested and sentenced to hang it seems
arrested and sentenced to hang it seems
arrested and sentenced to hang it seems that Anne managed to escape that fate no
that Anne managed to escape that fate no
that Anne managed to escape that fate no one knows if she returned to her family
one knows if she returned to her family
one knows if she returned to her family or if she took up a new identity and set
or if she took up a new identity and set
or if she took up a new identity and set back out to sea it’s been well
back out to sea it’s been well
back out to sea it’s been well speculated that her father pulled some
speculated that her father pulled some
speculated that her father pulled some strings to smuggle her out
strings to smuggle her out
strings to smuggle her out number five Henry every the man they
number five Henry every the man they
number five Henry every the man they called long Ben was also known as the
called long Ben was also known as the
called long Ben was also known as the king of the Pirates he started out in
king of the Pirates he started out in
king of the Pirates he started out in the British Royal Navy then later staged
the British Royal Navy then later staged
the British Royal Navy then later staged a mutiny while working on a warship and
a mutiny while working on a warship and
a mutiny while working on a warship and became a pirate captain even though he
became a pirate captain even though he
became a pirate captain even though he was a pirate for only two years he
was a pirate for only two years he
was a pirate for only two years he amassed incredible wealth and was feared
amassed incredible wealth and was feared
amassed incredible wealth and was feared all across the Red Sea and the Indian
all across the Red Sea and the Indian
all across the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean after two years he was so rich he
Ocean after two years he was so rich he
Ocean after two years he was so rich he retired and spent the rest of his life
retired and spent the rest of his life
retired and spent the rest of his life in hiding probably living it up on an
in hiding probably living it up on an
in hiding probably living it up on an island drinking rum out of a coconut or
island drinking rum out of a coconut or
island drinking rum out of a coconut or perhaps a skull they say it started with
perhaps a skull they say it started with
perhaps a skull they say it started with a man named Henry Avery sailed into the
a man named Henry Avery sailed into the
a man named Henry Avery sailed into the port of Nassau
port of Nassau
port of Nassau bribe the colonial governor to look past
bribe the colonial governor to look past
bribe the colonial governor to look past the sins encounters crew upon the beach
the sins encounters crew upon the beach
the sins encounters crew upon the beach thus began the pirate issue on New
thus began the pirate issue on New
thus began the pirate issue on New Providence island number four Sir
Providence island number four Sir
Providence island number four Sir Francis Drake Francis Drake was a
Francis Drake Francis Drake was a
Francis Drake Francis Drake was a privateer under Queen Elizabeth the
privateer under Queen Elizabeth the
privateer under Queen Elizabeth the first but that didn’t make him any less
first but that didn’t make him any less
first but that didn’t make him any less violent or ferocious than illegal
violent or ferocious than illegal
violent or ferocious than illegal pirates the English Merchant Marine was
pirates the English Merchant Marine was
pirates the English Merchant Marine was basically under orders of the Queen to
basically under orders of the Queen to
basically under orders of the Queen to go out and disrupt Spanish shipping he
go out and disrupt Spanish shipping he
go out and disrupt Spanish shipping he was in fact seen as a role model for the
was in fact seen as a role model for the
was in fact seen as a role model for the Pirates of the later Golden Age and was
Pirates of the later Golden Age and was
Pirates of the later Golden Age and was one of the only pirates known to have
one of the only pirates known to have
one of the only pirates known to have actually buried treasure his particular
actually buried treasure his particular
actually buried treasure his particular enemy was Spain and he fought the
enemy was Spain and he fought the
enemy was Spain and he fought the Spanish so viciously that they dubbed
Spanish so viciously that they dubbed
Spanish so viciously that they dubbed him el dragging the Spanish had almost
him el dragging the Spanish had almost
him el dragging the Spanish had almost won without effort now the English began
won without effort now the English began
won without effort now the English began to Harris them number three Blackbeard
to Harris them number three Blackbeard
to Harris them number three Blackbeard what be your name gal no i’ii be back
what be your name gal no i’ii be back
what be your name gal no i’ii be back beard edward teach better known as
beard edward teach better known as
beard edward teach better known as Blackbeard wasn’t just a pirate he
Blackbeard wasn’t just a pirate he
Blackbeard wasn’t just a pirate he commanded a pirate army and he was known
commanded a pirate army and he was known
commanded a pirate army and he was known to charge into battle with a sword in
to charge into battle with a sword in
to charge into battle with a sword in each hand several loaded pistols and lit
each hand several loaded pistols and lit
each hand several loaded pistols and lit fuses under his hat no wonder he was
fuses under his hat no wonder he was
fuses under his hat no wonder he was feared and admired throughout the West
feared and admired throughout the West
feared and admired throughout the West Indies his ship Queen Anne’s Revenge is
Indies his ship Queen Anne’s Revenge is
Indies his ship Queen Anne’s Revenge is one of the most famous pirate ships in
one of the most famous pirate ships in
one of the most famous pirate ships in history legend has it that when he was
history legend has it that when he was
history legend has it that when he was finally defeated and beheaded his
finally defeated and beheaded his
finally defeated and beheaded his headless body swam around the ship
headless body swam around the ship
headless body swam around the ship several times before sinking you
several times before sinking you
several times before sinking you wouldn’t believe it if it wasn’t there
wouldn’t believe it if it wasn’t there
wouldn’t believe it if it wasn’t there in a book that this guy did what he did
in a book that this guy did what he did
in a book that this guy did what he did it’s his fantastic stuff and he can’t he
it’s his fantastic stuff and he can’t he
it’s his fantastic stuff and he can’t he can’t make that stuff up number two
can’t make that stuff up number two
can’t make that stuff up number two Ching she Ching she wasn’t just a
Ching she Ching she wasn’t just a
Ching she Ching she wasn’t just a powerful pirate captain she was also one
powerful pirate captain she was also one
powerful pirate captain she was also one of the most badass women in history
of the most badass women in history
of the most badass women in history mistress Ching with her adopted son
mistress Ching with her adopted son
mistress Ching with her adopted son turned husband Cheung Potts I she had
turned husband Cheung Potts I she had
turned husband Cheung Potts I she had control over 1,500 ships and 80,000
control over 1,500 ships and 80,000
control over 1,500 ships and 80,000 pirates which makes her pirate army one
pirates which makes her pirate army one
pirates which makes her pirate army one of the biggest naval armies in history
of the biggest naval armies in history
of the biggest naval armies in history together they plundered ships and towns
together they plundered ships and towns
together they plundered ships and towns all through the South China Sea
all through the South China Sea
all through the South China Sea shipwreck coal is a fortress a well
shipwreck coal is a fortress a well
shipwreck coal is a fortress a well supplied fortress eventually the
supplied fortress eventually the
supplied fortress eventually the desperate government offered her amnesty
desperate government offered her amnesty
desperate government offered her amnesty in exchange for peace so she retired
in exchange for peace so she retired
in exchange for peace so she retired from piracy and started running a casino
from piracy and started running a casino
from piracy and started running a casino instead before we unveil our number one
instead before we unveil our number one
instead before we unveil our number one pick here are some honorable mentions
pick here are some honorable mentions
pick here are some honorable mentions Captain William Kidd a pirate so
Captain William Kidd a pirate so
Captain William Kidd a pirate so villainous that he almost destroyed the
villainous that he almost destroyed the
villainous that he almost destroyed the British Empire number one Bartholomew
British Empire number one Bartholomew
British Empire number one Bartholomew Roberts Bartholomew Roberts or Black
Roberts Bartholomew Roberts or Black
Roberts Bartholomew Roberts or Black Bart as he posthumously became known
Bart as he posthumously became known
Bart as he posthumously became known sail during the Golden Age of piracy and
sail during the Golden Age of piracy and
sail during the Golden Age of piracy and he was the most successful pirate of his
he was the most successful pirate of his
he was the most successful pirate of his time though not terribly bloodthirsty he
time though not terribly bloodthirsty he
time though not terribly bloodthirsty he was cold-blooded calculating and
was cold-blooded calculating and
was cold-blooded calculating and shrewdly practical and he plundered over
shrewdly practical and he plundered over
shrewdly practical and he plundered over four hundred and seventy ships during
four hundred and seventy ships during
four hundred and seventy ships during his reign an all-time record for pirates
his reign an all-time record for pirates
his reign an all-time record for pirates that was crew called him pistol proof he
that was crew called him pistol proof he
that was crew called him pistol proof he did eventually die in battle and his
did eventually die in battle and his
did eventually die in battle and his death is set to mark the end of the
death is set to mark the end of the
death is set to mark the end of the Golden Age you honor a promise to ensure
Golden Age you honor a promise to ensure
Golden Age you honor a promise to ensure that Roberts body would never be put on
that Roberts body would never be put on
that Roberts body would never be put on display do you agree with our list
display do you agree with our list
display do you agree with our list prepare to set sail who’s your favorite
prepare to set sail who’s your favorite
prepare to set sail who’s your favorite historical pirate for more swashbuckling
historical pirate for more swashbuckling
historical pirate for more swashbuckling top 10s published every day be sure to
top 10s published every day be sure to
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