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 Hyannis, Massachusetts, U.S.
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| Occupation | Maritime archaeologist |
Barry Clifford (born May 30, 1945) is an American explorer who searches for old shipwrecks underwater. He is famous for finding the Whydah Gally, a pirate ship that sank in 1717. His discoveries have taught us a lot about pirates and life at sea hundreds of years ago.
Contents
Discovering the Whydah Gally
Finding a Pirate Ship
Around 1982, Barry Clifford began looking for the Whydah Gally. This ship was once used to carry enslaved people, but it was captured by a famous pirate named Samuel Bellamy. The Whydah sank in a storm in 1717 off the coast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
Owning the Treasure
After years of hard work, Clifford and his team found the shipwreck. In 1988, a court in Massachusetts decided that all the treasures found from the Whydah belonged to Barry Clifford. This was a huge win for him and his team.
Sharing the Discoveries
Clifford later opened the Whydah Pirate Museum in West Yarmouth, Massachusetts. Here, people can see many amazing items found from the shipwreck. Some of these artifacts also traveled around the world in an exhibition called "Real Pirates." In 2022, a new permanent museum called Real Pirates opened in Salem, Massachusetts, showing even more items from the Whydah.
Barry Clifford's Life Journey
Growing Up and Learning
Barry Clifford was born in 1945 on Cape Cod. He went to Maine Central Institute and then studied history and sociology at Western Colorado University. He also continued his studies at Bridgewater State College. His love for history and the ocean led him to become an underwater explorer.
Exploring Other Shipwrecks
Clifford's work didn't stop with the Whydah. In 1999 and 2000, he led three trips to Île Sainte-Marie near Madagascar. During these expeditions, his team believed they found the Adventure Galley, which was the main ship of the famous pirate William Kidd. They also thought they might have found another pirate ship called the Fiery Dragon.
Searching for Columbus's Ship
In 2014, Barry Clifford's team announced they might have found the wreck of the Santa María. This was the flagship of Christopher Columbus when he sailed to the Americas. However, experts from UNESCO later looked at the wreck. They said it probably wasn't Columbus's ship because of things like the type of metal used in its parts. Clifford disagreed with their findings.
The Mystery of Captain Kidd's Treasure
In 2015, Clifford found a large silver object off the coast of Île Sainte-Marie. He thought it might be part of Captain Kidd's treasure. But later, it was found to be mostly lead, not silver. UNESCO also said that what Clifford thought was Captain Kidd's ship was actually part of an old port structure. Barry Clifford has strongly disagreed with UNESCO's statements.
Books and TV Shows
Sharing His Adventures
Barry Clifford has written several books about his exciting underwater explorations. These include The Pirate Prince, Expedition Whydah, and Real Pirates: The Untold Story.... He even wrote a children's book about pirates for National Geographic.
Documentaries and Inspiration
His discoveries have also been featured in many television documentaries. Shows like "Black Bellamy's Treasure" and "Pirates of The Whydah" have shown his work to people all over the world. A TV series called Adventure Inc. was even inspired by Barry Clifford's real-life adventures. He also worked as a consultant for that show.
Awards and Recognition
Barry Clifford is a respected member of The Explorers Club. He received the Lowell Thomas Award for underwater archaeology in 2005. He is also an Honorary Member of the Boston Marine Society. In 2006, the American Museum of Natural History in New York named him an "Explorer-in-Residence." This means he was a special explorer working with the museum.
See also
In Spanish: Barry Clifford para niños
- Whydah Gally
- Samuel Bellamy
- Archaeology of shipwrecks
- Maritime archeology
- Underwater archeology
- Wreck diving
