How did pirates get rich?

High seas piracy was the colonial era's version of investment banking. Through good positioning, aggressive go-getters could make millions from global trade and commerce in diverse sectors. They were frequently chased off shore to the Caribbean by angry governments.

How did pirates make their money?

A pirate's “salary” was based on what the crew obtained for the loot they plundered from the target ship. Pirates would very carefully select the target ship because the bounty had to be worth the risky battle that could ensue.

Who was the richest pirate ever?

Captain Samuel Bellamy ( c. 23 February 1689 – 26 April 1717), later known as "Black Sam" Bellamy, was an English sailor turned pirate during the early 18th century. He is best known as the wealthiest pirate in recorded history, and one of the faces of the Golden Age of Piracy.

Why were pirates so successful?

Historical pirates were successful because they used ships that were small and swift. That allowed them to attack much larger, better-armed ships. After attacking with cannon fire, pirates armed with swords and pistols went aboard the other ship, fighting hand-to-hand until the enemy was subdued.

What did pirates do for a living?

A pirate is a robber who travels by water. Though most pirates targeted ships, some also launched attacks on coastal towns. We often think of pirates as swashbuckling and daring or evil and brutish, but in actual fact most of them were ordinary people who had been forced to turn to criminal activity to make ends meet.

How Did Pirates Spend Their Money? | The Pirates Port

How often did pirates bathe?

Pirates Had No Option But to Bathe With Seawater

Despite the abundance of seawater, bathing wasn't a common occurrence amongst the pirates. They felt leaving the ship was dangerous and saltwater irritated their skin.

What did pirates suffer from?

Scurvy, a disease caused by lack of vitamin C, sickened sailors who had no access to fresh food supplies, and killed more than 2 million sailors between the 16th and 18th centuries alone.

What gender was the most successful pirate?

Ching Shih, who lived and pillaged during the Qing Dynasty, has been called the most successful pirate in history.

How long did pirates last?

The Golden Age of Piracy spanned the period from approximately 1650 to 1726. During this period, bands of pirates menaced commercial (and sometimes even military) shipping in the Caribbean, along the North American eastern seaboard, the West African coast, and the Indian Ocean.

Who was the most wanted pirates?

Did any pirates retire?

Henry Every, one of the few major pirate captains to retire with his loot without being arrested nor killed in battle. He is famous for capturing the fabulously wealthy Mogul ship Ganj-i-Sawai in 1695.

What pirate stole the most money?

The highest-earning pirate ever was Samuel "Black Sam" Bellamy, an Englishman who made his bones patrolling the New England coast in the 18th century. By our calculations, "Black Sam" plundered an estimated $120 million over the course of his career.

Who was the youngest pirate?

John King (c. 1706/09 – April 26, 1717) was an 18th-century pirate. He joined the crew of Samuel "Black Sam" Bellamy while still a juvenile, and is the youngest known pirate on record.

What did pirates do all day?

Pirates' main means of living was to steal from others. They'd steal treasures like gold and jewels, yes, but most of the time, pirates would steal things to aid in their survival. Food, drink, and supplies for sailing would make their way off of one ship and onto a pirate's ship in no time!

What did pirates call money?

Loot. Stolen money or belongings. Man-O-War. A pirate ship that is decked out and prepared for battle.

What do pirates steal today?

In modern sea piracy, small, fast boats are often used to approach and board larger, slower-moving ships to steal cargo or take the ship and crew hostage. “In the past, pirates stole gold, silver, gemstones, and rum barrels. Nowadays, they are taking over merchant ships and looting onboard containers.

Who was the last real pirate?

Don Pedro, the handsome, ruthless Spanish pirate, apparently didn't get the memo in 1832 that piracy was over in the Atlantic Ocean. He made a reckless move on the high seas against a brig from Salem, Mass., and he paid for it with his life.

Why did pirates become extinct?

The era of piracy in the Caribbean began in the 1500s and phased out in the 1830s after the navies of the nations of Western Europe and North America with colonies in the Caribbean began combating pirates.

What country had the most pirates?

Below are the world's most pirate-infested waters, and an individual attack from each place. Indonesia's 17,500 islands and their surrounding waters now take the title as the world's most heavily pirated.

Who was the unluckiest pirate in history?

Captain Kidd can be said to be the most unfortunate pirate ever to sail the high seas! For it was his bad luck to sail as a privateer/pirate just when the rules changed and the privateer/pirate became an outlaw.

Who was the most brutal female pirate?

Jacquotte Delahaye

As she was destitute, she joined up with a pirate crew and later commanded a fleet of ships. With striking red hair and the legendary status of surviving many dangerous encounters, she was given the nickname "Back From The Dead Red."

What do pirates call their girlfriends?

matey (or mate)

How did pirates treat STDS?

Among the more gruesome items was a urethral syringe — a device with a small angled nozzle used to inject mercury into the male urethra to treat syphilis. Carnes-McNaughton said mercury was thought to be a cure. Another item was a clyster pump used to administer medical enemas for “quick absorption,” she said.

What did pirates fear the most?

Sailors and pirates tended to be very superstitious - that is, they had a fear of the unknown and used it to explain misfortune (bad things that happened). Living and working on a ship in the middle of the seven seas was a very dangerous job.

Why did pirates lose their teeth?

Pirates also had terrible diets. They could only get fresh fruits and vegetables by stealing or trading for them. This caused problems for their teeth, and also promoted a disease called scurvy. Scurvy is caused by a lack of vitamin C in a diet, and among other problems, causes receding gums.