Charles Vane facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Charles Vane
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An early-18th century engraving of Vane
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| Born | c. 1680 |
| Died | 29 March 1721 (aged 40–41) Port Royal, Colony of Jamaica
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| Piratical career | |
| Type | Pirate |
| Allegiance | None |
| Years active | 1716–1721 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Base of operations | West Indies |
| Commands |
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Charles Vane (born around 1680 – died March 29, 1721) was an English pirate. He sailed the seas around the Bahamas during the later part of the Golden Age of Piracy. This was a time when many pirates were active in the Caribbean.
Contents
Charles Vane: A Pirate's Story
Vane was likely born in Kingdom of England around 1680. Not much is known about his early life. He lived in Port Royal before he became a pirate.
Early Days and First Adventures
One of Vane's first pirate adventures was with Henry Jennings. They attacked a camp that was salvaging treasure from the Spanish 1715 Treasure Fleet. These ships had sunk off the coast of Florida.
By 1717, Vane was leading his own ships. He became one of the main leaders of the pirate community in Nassau. This place was known as the Republic of Pirates.
Life in Nassau and the King's Pardon
In 1718, King George I of Great Britain offered a special "King's Pardon" to pirates. This meant they could stop their criminal actions and be forgiven. Vane was captured, but he agreed to take the pardon. However, just a few months later, he and his crew went back to piracy. His crew included famous pirates like Edward England and Jack Rackham.
Captain Vincent Pearse arrived in Nassau in February 1718. He came on his ship, HMS Phoenix, to get pirates to surrender. Vane was caught, but other pirates like Benjamin Hornigold asked Pearse to let him go. Pearse did, and Vane said he would take the pardon.
But on March 21, Vane and his men became pirates again. They captured a ship from Jamaica. Vane returned to Nassau and caused trouble for Pearse. Vane then left Nassau on April 4. Four days later, Pearse left too, and Nassau was once again controlled by pirates.
Vane's Reputation and Escapes
After leaving Nassau, Vane attacked many ships around the Bahamas. He became known for being very harsh. He and his crew would often treat captured sailors very badly to make them give up their valuables. Around this time, Vane's crew changed the name of their ship, the Lark, to the Ranger.
Vane continued to attack ships in May and June. He captured a large French ship with 20 guns. This ship became his new main ship.
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Vane was back in Nassau on July 22, 1718. This was when Woodes Rogers arrived to become the new governor. Rogers' ships trapped Vane in the harbor. Vane's ship was too big for one entrance. The other entrance was blocked by Rogers' fleet.
That night, Vane turned the French ship into a fireship. He set it on fire and sent it towards Rogers' ships. A fireship is a ship filled with flammable materials and set alight. It is used to attack or block other ships. The fireship did not damage many of Rogers' ships, but they had to move away. This opened up a path for Vane to escape. Vane quickly took a smaller ship, the Katherine, and got away.
Vane continued to capture ships off the Bahamas in July. He worked with Charles Yeats, who was the original captain of the Katherine. Vane captured another ship, a brigantine, which became his new main ship. In August, he sailed to Charleston and took eight ships there. After capturing a ship carrying enslaved people, he put them on Yeats' ship. Yeats then sailed away with them and surrendered to the governor of South Carolina for a pardon.
Merchants in Charleston sent two ships to hunt Vane. These ships were led by William Rhett. Rhett did not find Vane. However, his ships did find and capture another pirate, Stede Bonnet.
In August, Vane prepared his ship for repairs near Abaco. This process is called Careening. His friend Nicholas Woodall secretly brought him supplies. Hornigold, who had become a pirate-hunter, followed Vane. Vane escaped, but Hornigold captured Woodall, who was then put in prison.
Vane returned to Nassau in September. He threatened to take the city back. In October, Vane sailed to Ocracoke Inlet and met with Blackbeard. They might have talked about joining forces. The two pirate crews celebrated for several days before going their separate ways.
The End of Vane's Journey
In October, Vane raided Eleuthera, taking alcohol and livestock. On November 23, Vane saw a large warship. When he raised his pirate flag, the warship raised a French flag and started firing. Vane's ships were outgunned, so he ordered a retreat.
Vane's crew thought this was cowardly. They voted him out of command. Calico Jack Rackham became the new captain. Vane and 16 others who supported him, including his first mate Robert Deal, were put on a smaller ship.
Vane sailed to the Bay Islands, capturing ships along the way. Deal took command of one of these captured ships. In February 1719, Vane and Deal were caught in a hurricane and separated. Vane's ship was wrecked on an island where no one lived.
When English ships came to get water near the island, Vane tried to join one of the crews. He used a false name. But an old friend recognized him, and Vane was arrested.
Vane was taken to Spanish Town, Jamaica and held in prison. On March 22, 1721, he was put on trial for piracy and found guilty. Vane learned that Deal had already been tried and executed. Vane was sentenced to death. On March 29, he was executed at Gallows Point in Port Royal. His body was then hung in chains at Gun Cay as a warning.
See also
In Spanish: Charles Vane para niños
