Walter Kennedy (pirate) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Walter Kennedy
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Allen & Ginter cigarette card depicting Kennedy (c. 1888)
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| Born | c. 1695 |
| Died | 21 July 1721 Execution Dock, Wapping, England
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| Piratical career | |
| Type | Pirate |
| Years active | c. 1718 - 21 July 1721 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Base of operations | Caribbean Sea and West Africa |
| Commands | Frigate Royal Rover |
| Wealth | £18,500 |
Walter Kennedy was an English pirate who lived a short but exciting life. Born around 1695, he became a pirate and sailed with famous captains like Howell Davis and Bartholomew Roberts. He was known for his courage, but also for his bad temper.
Contents
Becoming a Pirate: Walter Kennedy's Early Life
Walter Kennedy was born in 1695 in Wapping, London. His family was poor, and he never learned to read or write. As a young man, he would steal things in London.
Later, he became an apprentice to his father, who worked with anchors. But when his father died, Kennedy decided to go to sea. He joined the Royal Navy during a big war called the War of the Spanish Succession. During this time, he heard many stories about famous pirates like Henry Morgan and Henry Every. These tales made him dream of becoming a pirate himself.
In 1718, Kennedy was a crew member on a ship called the Buck. This ship was part of a fleet led by Woodes Rogers. Rogers was sent to the Republic of Pirates in the Bahamas to stop piracy. The Buck was sent to Havana with a message for the Spanish governor.
On the way, some of the crew, including Kennedy, decided to take over the ship. They had recently been pardoned for piracy and wanted to go back to their old ways. They took control of the Buck, and Howell Davis was chosen as their new captain.
Adventures with Famous Pirate Captains
Kennedy sailed with Howell Davis for a while. One day, when they were on an island called Principe, they were attacked. Kennedy was the only one from his group who managed to escape back to the ship alive.
After Davis died, another famous pirate named Bartholomew Roberts was chosen to lead the crew. Roberts and some of the crew went to chase another ship. They left Kennedy in charge of their main ship, the Royal Rover, and many of the crew members.
Walter Kennedy: From Crew to Captain
Kennedy saw this as his chance to become a captain. He decided to leave Roberts and declared himself the new captain of the Royal Rover. Under his leadership, the crew decided they wanted to stop being pirates and sail to Ireland.
However, Kennedy was not good at navigating ships. The crew soon found out and were very angry. They even threatened to throw him overboard! But because Kennedy was very brave, they didn't carry out their threat.
Instead of Ireland, Kennedy's poor navigation skills led them to land on the coast of Scotland. The crew pretended to be shipwrecked sailors. But they caused so much trouble in every village they visited that people soon realized they were pirates.
Seventeen of Kennedy's crew were arrested near Edinburgh. They were put on trial for piracy, and nine of them were hanged. Kennedy managed to escape and made it to Ireland. He quickly spent all the money he had stolen.
Later, he went to a place called Deptford. There, a mate from a ship he had once captured recognized him and reported him. Kennedy was sent to Marshalsea prison and put on trial for piracy. He was hanged at Execution Dock on July 21, 1721.
Images for kids
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Walter Kennedy on a cigarette card from 1888
See also
