Stede Bonnet

Major Stede Bonnet, the "gentleman pirate," was one of the most interesting but least successful Pirate s. Much of his brief, disastrous career as a pirate is disputed.

Stede Bonnet was an educated Land Owner in Barbados , owning a profitable Sugar Plantation near Bridgetown. In 1717 (well into his middle-age) Bonnet decided, for reasons unknown, to become a pirate. This unheard of move, which scandalised Bridgetown's polite society, was one for which Bonnet's mannered upbringing had poorly prepared him. Other than a few government backed Privateer s, all pirates had either stolen their ships or obtained them by Mutiny , but Bonnet bought his legally. He named the ten-gun vessel ''Revenge'' and hired about seventy sailors on Salary .

Bonnet enjoyed some modest success taking vessels off Virginia and the Carolinas, despite his total lack of any experience at sea. Off Carolina , he came upon Edward Teach ( Blackbeard ). Teach took a liking to Bonnet, invited him on his ship (''Queen Anne's Revenge''), then took Bonnet's ship. Bonnet is said to have been content aboard Teach's ship, reading and wandering the decks.

Likely as a spectator, Bonnet was with Teach for a siege of Charleston, South Carolina . Teach decided to seek a Pardon at that time, and Bonnet (who would have been Hanged too had they been caught) hoped to be pardoned at the same time.

Teach then conned Bonnet out of his share of the Bounty and left under mysterious circumstances. Rather than take a pardon, Bonnet set off after Teach, but was unsuccessful. Returning to piracy, Bonnet again managed to fare remarkably well given his abilities. Almost by accident, he was captured by William Rhett . Rhett had been sent after other pirates that had been working near Charleston.

Bonnet and his crew were tried and most sentenced to death. His previous participation in piracy and particularly the siege sealed his fate. Despite a long and supposedly quite moving letter to the Governor begging for Clemency , Bonnet was hanged in December of 1718 .

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