Blackbeard

Blackbeard the Pirate, Edward Teach

Blackbeard (~1680-1718) was an English pirate operating around the American colonies in the early 1700's, known for not harming or murdering captives. Actually named Edward Teach (or possibly Edward Thatch), his nickname derived from his thick black beard and fearsome appearance. A shrewd and calculating leader, Teach commanded his vessels with the permission of their crews, and he formed an alliance of pirates and blockaded the port of Charleston, South Carolina. Teach was likely born in Bristol, England, and sailed on privateer ships before joining pirate Captain Benjamin Hornigold sometime around 1716 to command a sloop. Teach later captured a French merchant vessel, renamed her Queen Anne's Revenge, and equipped her with 40 guns. He was immortalised after his death and became the inspiration for a number of pirate-themed romanticised works of fiction across a range of genres.

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