Captain Kidd standing over the treasure he buried at Gardiner's Island. © NMM

Captain William Kidd is everyone's idea of the ‘swashbuckling’ pirate.

He was celebrated in England as one of the most colourful outlaws of the 17th century.

Captain Kidd hanging in chains. © NMM

Captain Kidd was hanged at Execution Dock at Wapping on the River Thames.

Kidd’s body was suspended in an iron cage at Tilbury Point for years as a warning to other seamen against piracy.

It has been claimed that important evidence in two of the piracy cases was concealed at the trial, and some observers doubted whether Kidd was in fact guilty.

The first rope around Kidd’s neck broke so he had to be strung up for a second time.

Treasure hunters are still searching today for his legendary ‘buried treasure’ and for the Quedagh Merchant, whose wreck lies undiscovered somewhere in the Caribbean.