Benjamin Hornigold (c. 1680 – 1719) was an English pirate who operated in the West Indies and the eastern coast of the American colonies during the early 18th century, a period often referred to as the Golden Age of Piracy.
Early life
The exact details of Hornigold’s birth, including his precise birthdate and place, are not documented; scholars generally estimate his birth to have occurred in the early 1680s in England.
Piracy career
Hornigold first appears in historical records as a crew member under pirate Thomas Tew during a 1715 raid on a Portuguese treasure fleet off the coast of Brazil. He subsequently became captain of his own vessel, the Ranger, operating out of New Providence in the Bahamas. Hornigold’s crew targeted merchant ships, primarily in the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic seaboard of the American colonies.
In 1716, Hornigold was among the group of pirates who formed an informal alliance known as the “Brethren of the Coast.” He is noted for his policy of refusing to attack English vessels, a stance that later led to tension with other pirates.
Mentorship of Blackbeard
One of Hornigold’s most enduring legacies is his mentorship of Edward Teach, better known as Blackbeard. Historical accounts indicate that Blackbeard served under Hornigold as a quartermaster before establishing his own independent command.
Pardon and later life
In 1718, Governor Woodes Rogers of the Bahamas offered a royal pardon to pirates who surrendered within a stipulated period. Hornigold accepted the pardon and was commissioned as a privateer, tasked with hunting former pirate associates. He led several successful operations against pirates, including the capture of the pirate vessel John in 1719.
Hornigold’s activities as a privateer continued until his death later in 1719, which is believed to have occurred aboard his ship in the Caribbean. The exact circumstances of his death remain uncertain.
Historical significance
Benjamin Hornigold is recognized as a transitional figure who moved from piracy to official naval service, illustrating the fluid boundaries between outlaw and state-sanctioned maritime activities in the early 18th century. His role in mentoring Blackbeard contributes to his lasting prominence in pirate historiography.
References
- Rediker, Marcus. Villains of All Nations: Atlantic Pirates in the Golden Age. Beacon Press, 2004.
- Cordingly, David. Under the Black Flag: The Romance and the Reality of Life Among the Pirates. Random House, 1995.
- Rogers, Woodes. The History of the Bahamas, Including the Long Islands, from 1492 to 1815. 1863.
