The poll is closed. 16 votes were cast.
First of all, thanks to all who voted and those who visited the site.
There were no votes for Captain Crunch, Captain Hook, and Jack Sparrow. Congratulations, those fooled no one. Almost all voted for Blackbeard (15) and Jean Lafitte (15). Again, congratulations, you were correct. Most voted for Captain Kidd (10) and Henry Morgan (13) and were right to do so. Most didn't realize that Thomas Tew (4) and Red Beard (4) were real pirates.
Five of the pirates listed were fictional.
Captain Crunch (suprise! I see no 5 year olds voted)
Captain Hook (From Peter Pan fame)
Jack Sparrow (Pirates of the Caribbean, of course)
Davy Jones (Pirates of the Caribbean)
Billy Bones (Robert Louis Stevenson's novel Treasure Island)
Now to the real pirates!
Blackbeard was an English pirate also known as Edward Teach or Thatch. His ship was the Queen Anne's Revenge and he mainly operated in the Caribbean in the early 1700s. He was killed in 1718. His legend grew after his death.
Red Beard also known as Barbarossa. This one was tricky. He is very obscure, a Turkish pirate. He plagued the Barbary Coast in the early 1500's. Known for his red beard.
Captain Kidd, probably the most famous pirate along with Blackbeard. William Kidd was Scotish. Sailed during the late 1600's. He was tried for piracy and executed. He was hung in 1701. There is probably more information on him than any other pirate out there.
Calico Jack, his given name was John Rackham. He was an English pirate who based his operations in the Caribbean in the early 1700's. He sailed with 2 female pirates. His design of the pirate flag is the one many recognize, the skull with 2 crossed swords. He was hung for piracy in Jamaica in November of 1720. He was a very interesting pirate and there is more information available on him and his female companions in books and articles.
Thomas Tew was an English pirate. He was supposed to have been married with children. He supposedly was shot by a cannon and killed near the Red Sea in 1695.
Henry Morgan, a Welsh pirate, was an Admiral. This is not the Captain Morgan from the Rum commercials. I almost put him in the poll but did not want to confuse the voters. Henry Morgan was noterious and active in the mid to late 1600's. He is considered one of the most successful pirates. He actually retired from piracy and died from, probably, tuberculosis or maybe from liver failure due to his heavy drinking. He died in 1688.
Black Bart was also a Welsh pirate. His name was John Roberts. He supposedly preferred tea to rum, suprising for a pirate! He is considered the most successful pirate ever. He operated off the coast of Africa and the coast of America. He was killed in battle. His body was weighted and he was buried at sea. He died on 10 February 1722 and that date is known as The Blackest Day, the day the Golden Age of Piracy ended.
Jean Lafitte, of French origin, operated in the Gulf of Mexico during the early 1800's. Based his operations off the coast of Louisiana then moved to Galveston, Texas at the end of his career. Hero of the Battle of New Orleans. Previous posts on this site has much more information on him as well as his brother and crew.
I hope this sparked some interest.
