Capture of the schooner Fancy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Capture of the sloop Ranger |
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| Part of the Golden Age of Piracy | |||||||
 A drawing of Edward Low's ship |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 Great Britain |
 Pirates |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
 Peter Solgard |
Edward Low Charles Harris  |
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| Strength | |||||||
| 1 post ship | 1 schooner 1 sloop |
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| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| None | 43 captured 1 sloop captured |
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The capture of the sloop Ranger was a sea battle that happened on June 10, 1723. It took place near Block Island in the Atlantic Ocean. Two pirate ships, led by Edward Low and Charles Harris, attacked a British Royal Navy ship.
The pirates thought the British ship, HMS Greyhound, was a regular whaler. But it was a warship! The fight lasted for several hours. In the end, the pirate sloop Ranger, led by Harris, was captured. Low's schooner Fancy managed to get away. All the pirates who survived on Ranger were captured.
Contents
Who Was Involved?
Edward Low, a Famous Pirate
Edward Low was a well-known English pirate in the 1700s. By the summer of 1723, he commanded a large schooner called Fancy. This ship weighed eighty tons and had ten guns. It also had a crew of forty-four people.
Low was one of the most feared pirates in the Atlantic Ocean. He often sailed with another ship, the sloop Ranger. Ranger was led by his fellow pirate, Charles Harris. The pirates had captured Ranger earlier in 1723.
The British Royal Navy sent warships to stop pirates like Low. One of these ships was HMS Greyhound. It was a post ship led by Captain Peter Solgard.
The Greyhound was a strong warship. It had twenty guns and about 120 officers and crew members. Its job was to patrol the seas and protect other ships from pirates.
The Battle Begins
Pirates Spot a Ship
Low and his crew were sailing from the Azores. They were heading towards the British North American coast. Their plan was to attack merchant ships there. At the same time, HMS Greyhound was actively searching for Low.
While off the Delaware Bay, Low's pirates spotted the Greyhound. They thought it was a civilian whaler and decided to chase it. Low raised his Jolly Roger flag, which is the famous pirate flag.
A Surprise Attack
As the pirate ships got closer, the Greyhound showed its true colors. It raised its own flag and fired its cannons at Fancy. The pirates were surprised! They had been getting ready to board what they thought was an easy target.
Low's schooner, Fancy, was hit and damaged. It started firing back. The Ranger also moved into position and fired its guns. But after only a few minutes, both pirate ships decided to run away.
The Chase and Capture
A Running Battle
The battle turned into a long chase that lasted for several hours. The Greyhound kept firing its cannons. It hit Fancy and damaged its mast, which is the tall pole that holds the sails. Even with the damage, Fancy managed to escape.
However, Ranger was not so lucky. It couldn't get away because the wind was not in its favor. The crew of Ranger tried to use oars to steer their ship. But it was no use.
The Ranger is Taken
The faster Greyhound caught up to Ranger. The two ships came alongside each other. The crews started fighting with small weapons. The Greyhound crew threw grappling hooks to pull the ships together.
Then, the British sailors boarded the Ranger. After a short but intense fight, the pirates surrendered. They were all taken prisoner. It was said that Fancy was carrying a lot of gold, about £150,000 worth, when it escaped.
What Happened Next?
The Captured Pirates
A total of thirty-seven white men and six Black men from Ranger were captured. Many of them were taken to Newport, Rhode Island. There, they faced serious consequences for their piracy.
Captain Solgard's Fame
Captain Solgard became very famous in both North America and England. He received prize money for capturing the Ranger. The captured sloop was found to be carrying a cargo of gold. Solgard later became an admiral before he retired from the navy.
Edward Low's Fate
Edward Low continued his life as a pirate. He captured several more ships, including a French warship. People said he became even more daring after losing the Ranger. The exact story of his death is not known, but he died sometime in 1724.
Images for kids
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A 1936 postcard depicting Edward Low
