Barry Clifford facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Barry Clifford
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Clifford c. 2009
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| Born | May 30, 1945 |
| Occupation | Maritime archaeologist |
Barry Clifford (born May 30, 1945) is an American explorer who searches for old shipwrecks underwater. He is known for finding famous ships, especially pirate ships. He has spent many years exploring the ocean floor to uncover secrets from the past.
Around 1982, Clifford started finding parts of the Whydah Gally. This ship was once used to transport enslaved people, but it was captured by the pirate Samuel Bellamy and sank in 1717. This happened during a time known as the Golden Age of Piracy. In 1988, a court decided that all the items from the Whydah belonged to Clifford. He later opened his Whydah Pirate Museum in West Yarmouth, Massachusetts. Some items from the shipwreck were also shown in a traveling exhibit called Real Pirates. In 2022, a new permanent museum named Real Pirates opened in Salem, Massachusetts, displaying even more artifacts from the Whydah.
Contents
About Barry Clifford
Early Life and Education
Barry Clifford was born in 1945 on Cape Cod, a peninsula in Massachusetts. He studied history and sociology in college. This background helped him understand the past as he searched for shipwrecks.
Discovering Shipwrecks
Barry Clifford is famous for his work as an underwater archaeologist. This means he studies human history by exploring things found under the sea.
The Whydah Gally Discovery
One of his biggest discoveries was the Whydah Gally. This was a real pirate ship that sank a long time ago. Finding the Whydah was very important because it was the first time a pirate shipwreck had been found and confirmed. Clifford and his team found many treasures and items from the pirates' lives. These discoveries helped historians learn more about what life was like for pirates.
Searching for Captain Kidd's Ship
In 1999 and 2000, Clifford and his team went on expeditions near Madagascar. They were looking for the Adventure Galley, the ship of the famous pirate William Kidd. They believed they found it, along with another pirate ship.
In 2015, Clifford found a large silver-like object near Madagascar. He thought it might be part of Captain Kidd's treasure. However, experts from UNESCO later said the object was mostly lead and likely part of old port buildings, not Captain Kidd's ship. Clifford disagreed with their findings.
Exploring for Christopher Columbus's Ship
In 2014, Clifford's team announced they might have found the wreck of the Santa María. This was the flagship of Christopher Columbus. However, an expert team from UNESCO later said it could not be Columbus's ship. They pointed out that some parts of the wreck were made with materials not used in Columbus's time. Clifford strongly disagreed with this report, saying it was unfair.
Books and TV Shows
Barry Clifford has written several books about his underwater adventures. These books share his discoveries and experiences. Some of his books include The Pirate Prince and Expedition Whydah.
His work has also been featured in many television documentaries. These shows let people see his exciting expeditions and learn about the shipwrecks he finds. Some documentaries include Pirates of The Whydah and Quest for Captain Kidd. A TV show called Adventure Inc. was even inspired by his real-life explorations.
Clifford is a member of The Explorers Club, a group for people who explore the world. He has also received awards for his work in underwater archaeology.
See also
- Whydah Gally
- Samuel "Black Sam" Bellamy
- Archaeology of shipwrecks
- Maritime archeology
- Underwater archeology
- Wreck diving
