Robert Culliford facts for kids

Robert Culliford (born around 1666 – his later life is unknown) was a famous pirate from Cornwall, England. He is best known for his many adventures at sea and for often crossing paths with another well-known pirate, Captain William Kidd.

Becoming a Pirate Captain

Robert Culliford and William Kidd first met in 1689. They were both sailors on a French ship called the Sainte Rose. This ship was a "privateer," which meant it was a private ship allowed by a government to attack enemy ships during wartime.

A big war, called the War of the Grand Alliance, started. Culliford, Kidd, and other British sailors on the Sainte Rose decided to take control of the ship from the French crew. This act of taking over a ship from its officers is called a "mutiny." They renamed the ship the Blessed William, and Kidd became its captain.

However, Culliford soon led his own mutiny in 1690. He took command from Kidd, and the crew chose another pirate, William Mason, as their new captain.

Culliford sailed with these pirates through the Caribbean Sea. They took over other ships and even attacked a town. They then traveled to New York to sell the treasures they had found, which pirates called "booty."

Later, the pirates captured a French warship called L'Esperance. Captain Mason gave this ship to Culliford, who renamed it the Horne Frigate. This was Culliford's first time being a pirate captain! However, they lost most of their treasures when two smaller ships carrying their wealth were captured by French privateers. Culliford returned to New York with Mason. They then sailed on another captured French ship, the Jacob, in December 1690. Culliford served as a "quartermaster" on this ship, which was an important role helping to manage the crew and distribute goods.

Captured in India

Culliford and his pirate crew eventually sailed all the way to India. In 1692, they landed in a place called Mangrol. There, they robbed and mistreated the local people. The people of Gujarat eventually caught Culliford and seventeen of his crewmates. Culliford then spent the next four years in a prison in Gujarat.

Escape and New Adventures

In the spring of 1696, Culliford and some of his friends managed to escape from prison. They made their way to Bombay (now Mumbai). There, they found work on a ship belonging to the East India Company, called the Josiah.

However, when they reached Madras, Culliford and his friends took control of the ship. They became pirates again and sailed towards the Bay of Bengal.

Near the Nicobar Islands, the crew of the Josiah fought back and took their ship from Culliford. They left him stranded on an island. Luckily, he was rescued by Ralph Stout, the captain of another pirate ship called the Mocha. When Captain Stout was killed in 1697, Culliford became the captain of the Mocha.

Culliford briefly sailed with other pirate ships, including the Charming Mary. He then tried to capture a British ship called the Dorill. But the Dorill fought back, firing its cannons and damaging the Mocha's main mast. Culliford had to retreat to St. Mary's Island (Île Sainte-Marie) off the coast of Madagascar. On his way there, he continued to take treasures from other ships. At St. Mary's, he captured a French ship with a lot of valuable cargo.

Meeting William Kidd Again

Meanwhile, Captain William Kidd, who was supposed to be hunting pirates, found Culliford at St. Mary's Island. Kidd planned to capture Culliford's ship. However, many of Kidd's own crew members were unhappy with him. They decided to leave Kidd and join Culliford instead!

With his new crew, Culliford set sail in late June 1698. He left Captain Kidd and his damaged ship behind on St. Mary's Island.

Soon after leaving St. Mary's, Culliford met up with another pirate captain named Dirk Chivers. They joined forces with Joseph Wheeler. In September 1698, they captured a very rich ship called the Great Mohammed in the Red Sea. This ship was carrying a huge amount of money, about £130,000! On their way back to St. Mary's Island, they captured another ship in February 1699.

The End of His Pirate Life

In June 1699, Culliford was living at a pirate settlement on Ile Ste. Marie, near Madagascar. He was with another pirate captain named John Swann.

While at St. Mary's, several British warships arrived, led by Commodore Thomas Warren. The British offered the pirates a special deal called a "royal pardon" under the 1698 Act of Grace. This pardon meant they would not be punished for their past pirating if they stopped.

Culliford accepted the pardon, even though it had technically expired. However, he was still arrested and taken to the Marshalsea prison in London on August 1, 1700. He was put on trial for pirating the Great Mohammed, and the court decided his pardon was not valid. He was saved from being hanged because he was needed to give evidence in another pirate's trial, Samuel Burgess'. After that trial, Robert Culliford disappeared from historical records. Some say he might have served on a naval ship, but no one knows for sure what happened to him after that.

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