Famous Pirate Ships Of All Time

Pirate ships are an iconic symbol of the Golden Age of Piracy, which took place during the late 17th and early 18th centuries. These vessels were used by pirates to attack and plunder other ships at sea, often in search of valuable treasure, goods, or cargo. Pirate ships were typically smaller and faster than merchant vessels, and were equipped with a range of weapons, including cannons, muskets, and cutlasses. They were also often modified or customized to suit the needs of the pirates, with additional weapons, extra sails, or other modifications to improve speed or maneuverability. Pirate ships played a central role in the history of piracy, and have become an enduring symbol of this fascinating and often misunderstood aspect of maritime history.

1. Queen Anne's Revenge:

Queen Anne's Revenge is perhaps the most infamous pirate ship in history, due to its association with the notorious pirate Blackbeard. Originally a French slave ship named La Concorde, Blackbeard captured the vessel in 1717 off the coast of Martinique, and soon began to refit and modify it to suit his pirate needs. Blackbeard fitted the Queen Anne's Revenge with additional guns, making it one of the most heavily armed pirate ships of the time, and also added new masts and sails for greater speed and maneuverability. The ship's fearsome reputation was cemented when Blackbeard ran it aground in 1718, and fought off multiple ships from the Royal Navy before finally succumbing to British forces.

2. The Black Pearl:

The Black Pearl is a fictional pirate ship that features prominently in the Pirates of the Caribbean film franchise. However, the ship's design is based on the real-life pirate ship, the Whydah. The Whydah was a former slave ship that was captured by the pirate Black Sam Bellamy in 1717. Bellamy's crew modified the ship, adding additional guns and turning it into one of the fastest and most heavily armed pirate ships of its time. The Whydah sank in a storm off the coast of Massachusetts in 1717, and the wreckage was only discovered in 1984.

3. The Revenge:

The Revenge was a pirate ship captained by John "Calico Jack" Rackham, who was notorious for having two female pirates on board, Anne Bonny and Mary Read. The ship was originally a French vessel, but was captured by Rackham and modified to suit his needs. The Revenge was armed with multiple guns, and the crew was known for their skill with swords and other weapons. The ship was eventually captured by the British Navy, but not before Bonny and Read had famously fought off a boarding party of British sailors.

4. The Adventure Galley:

The Adventure Galley was a pirate ship captained by the notorious pirate William Kidd. Kidd was originally hired by the British government to hunt down pirates, but eventually turned to piracy himself. The Adventure Galley was originally a merchant ship, but Kidd refitted it with additional guns and renamed it after his backers, the Adventure Trading Company. The ship was not particularly successful, and was plagued by various problems, including a mutiny by the crew. Kidd was eventually captured by the British Navy and executed for piracy.

5. The Whydah Gally:

The Whydah Gally was another pirate ship captained by Black Sam Bellamy. The ship was originally a slave vessel, but Bellamy and his crew captured it in 1717 and modified it to suit their needs. The Whydah Gally was heavily armed and one of the fastest pirate ships of its time. However, the ship met a tragic end when it was wrecked in a fierce storm off the coast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, in 1717. The wreckage of the Whydah Gally was not discovered until 1984, when it was found to contain a treasure trove of artifacts, including weapons, coins, and other items.