Captain Teach commonly call'd Black Beard.

Captain Teach commonly call'd Black Beard. © National Maritime Museum, London

Description: Edward Teach or Blackbeard was one of the most feared of all the pirates, with a reputation for ruthlessness and cruelty. He was born Edward Drummond in Bristol. His career as a pirate was relatively short. Sometime after 1713 he joined the crew of the pirate Benjamin Hornigold, who gave him a small vessel to command in 1716. In the following year, he took the large French ship 'Concrode' in a joint action with Hornigold, and converted her into a flagship called 'Queen Anne's Revenge'. He was finally defeated in November 1718, when several Royal Navy ships ambushed him in Ocracoke Inlet. Blackbeard suffered several gunshot and sword wounds before he perished. His captors placed his head on a pole as a warning to others.

Creator: Thomas Nicholls, [artist]; James Basire [engraver]

Date: c.18th century