Benjamin Hornigold facts for kids

Captain Benjamin Hornigold (born 1680, died 1719) was an English pirate. He was active during the final years of the Golden Age of Piracy. This was a time when many pirates sailed the seas.

Hornigold started his pirate life around 1713. He attacked merchant ships near the Bahamas. He helped create a pirate hideout called the "Republic of Pirates" in Nassau. By 1717, he commanded a powerful ship named the Ranger. It was one of the strongest ships in the area. During this time, he made Edward Teach, known as "Blackbeard," his second-in-command.

Hornigold tried not to attack British ships. His crew eventually disagreed with this rule. They voted him out as captain. In December 1718, Hornigold accepted a special "King's Pardon." This meant his past crimes were forgiven. He then became a pirate hunter. He chased his former pirate friends for the Governor of the Bahamas, Woodes Rogers. Hornigold died in 1719. His ship was destroyed in a hurricane near New Spain.

Benjamin Hornigold's Early Pirate Life

We do not know much about Hornigold's early years. Some people think he was born in Norfolk, England. He might have worked on ships from King's Lynn or Great Yarmouth. His first known pirate actions happened in 1713 or 1714. He used small boats called periaguas and a ship named Happy Return. He worked with other pirates like Daniel Stillwell and John West. They attacked trading ships near New Providence and Nassau. Hornigold had helped set up a pirate base there.

Hornigold himself sailed a ship called the Marianne. After a crew disagreement in 1716, he and his supporters were left with a captured ship. By 1717, Hornigold was captain of the Ranger. This ship had 30 guns, making it very powerful. He could capture other ships easily.

His second-in-command was Edward Teach, who became famous as Blackbeard. Hornigold gave Teach command of his older ship. In early 1717, they captured three merchant ships quickly. One carried flour, another had spirits, and a third held white wine.

In March 1717, Hornigold attacked a ship sent to hunt pirates. The ship escaped by running aground. Its captain reported that Hornigold had five ships and about 350 pirates. In April 1717, Hornigold worked with Captain Napin. They looted ships near Jamaica, Puerto Bello, and Cuba. A warship, HMS Winchelsea, chased them away. Hornigold also protected a surgeon named John Howell.

In September 1717, Hornigold and Teach met Major Stede Bonnet. Bonnet was hurt, so he gave his ship Revenge to Teach. By October, their group had another ship.

How Hornigold Lost Command and Got a Pardon

Hornigold was very powerful at sea. But he was careful not to attack British ships. He claimed he was a privateer, fighting England's enemies. His crew did not like this rule. In 1716, they voted to attack any ship they wanted. Hornigold disagreed and was replaced as captain of the Marianne. Samuel Bellamy became the new captain.

Hornigold and his supporters were left with a captured ship. Teach commanded this ship after Hornigold got the Ranger. Hornigold continued pirating from Nassau until December 1717. Then, news arrived about a general pardon for pirates from the King. Hornigold sailed to Jamaica in January 1718. He received his pardon from the governor there. Later, he became a pirate hunter for the new Governor of the Bahamas, Woodes Rogers.

The King's Pardon for Pirates

On September 5, 1717, King George I made a special announcement. It was called the Proclamation of 1717. It offered a pardon to all pirates in the West Indies. If pirates surrendered to a British governor, they would get a "clean slate." This meant their past crimes would be forgiven.

However, many pirates in the West Indies did not hear about this first pardon. So, in December 1718, another pardon was issued. This was known as the King's Pardon of 1718. These pardons not only cleared their records. They also offered money for capturing other pirates. For example, capturing a pirate captain earned £100. Capturing a lieutenant or boatswain earned £40. Rewards were offered for every level of pirate on a ship.

Hornigold Becomes a Pirate Hunter and His Death

Governor Rogers accepted Hornigold's request for a pardon. But he gave Hornigold a new job: hunting other pirates. This included his former friend, Blackbeard. For the next year and a half, Hornigold sailed the Bahamas. He hunted his old pirate friends.

He chased Charles Vane but could not catch him. Instead, he captured Vane's friend, Nicholas Woodall. He also caught John Auger. Both Woodall and Auger had accepted the same pardon as Hornigold. But they had gone back to piracy. In December 1718, Governor Rogers praised Hornigold. He said Hornigold was working hard to fix his reputation by hunting other pirates.

In late 1719, Hornigold's ship was caught in a hurricane. This happened somewhere between New Providence and New Spain. His ship crashed on a hidden reef. A book from that time, A General History of the Pyrates, mentions this event. It says Hornigold "was cast away upon rocks, a great way from land, and perished." However, five of his men survived in a small boat. The exact spot where his ship sank is still unknown.

Hornigold in Popular Culture

• Stacy Keach played Hornigold in the 2006 TV show Blackbeard.
• Hornigold appears in the 2013 video game Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag. Ed Stoppard provided his voice.
• He is a character in the Starz TV series Black Sails. Patrick Lyster plays him.

See also

In Spanish: Benjamin Hornigold para niños