Blackbeard: Reading material

Possibly born in Bristol in England around 1680, Edward Thatch (or Teach) may have served as
a sailor or privateer during the War of Spanish Succession (known in America as Queen Anne's
War) before turning to high seas larceny in the last 'Golden Age' of piracy.

Blackbeard's pirate career probably began in 1717 while serving as second-in-command to

Captain Ben Hornigold, based in the pirate haven of Nassau in the Bahamas. Together they
attacked and plundered merchant ships off the eastern seaboard of colonial America. Blackbeard
later met 'gentleman pirate' Stede Bonnet, and took over command of his sloop, 'Revenge'.

Blackbeard continued to terrorise the Thirteen Colonies, attacking ships bound for eastern
seaports including Boston, New York, Philadelphia, the Chesapeake and Charleston. Blackbeard
then sailed to the Windward Islands, and near St.Vincent captured a French frigate, 'La
Concorde', which had been converted into a slave ship. Some of the slaves joined Blackbeard's
crew, the rest he put ashore.

Blackbeard renamed the ship 'Queen Anne's Revenge' and fitted her with 40 guns, making her
one of the most powerful ships in the area. With 'Queen Anne's Revenge' at the head of his small
pirate flotilla, Blackbeard attacked ships and settlements from Guadeloupe to the Gulf of Mexico.
Spanish sailors nicknamed him 'the Great Devil', and he became the most notorious and feared
pirate in the West Indies. In 1718 Blackbeard sailed to the coast of Florida, where a Spanish
treasure fleet had been wrecked three years before.

Some pirates had made their fortune searching the wrecks for silver and gold, and Blackbeard's
men spent several weeks diving the wrecks. But they had little success. Next, in the most
audacious move of his pirate career, Blackbeard, with four ships, blockaded the port of
Charleston, capital of the British colony of South Carolina.

For six days he stopped all ships entering or leaving the harbour, plundered them, and took their
passengers and crew hostage to be ransomed back to the town. Moving up the east coast of
America looking for a hideaway, Blackbeard's flagship 'Queen Anne's Revenge' ran aground
entering a shallow inlet, and sank. By now Blackbeard's crew was over-large and unruly, and
some speculate that Blackbeard sank his ship on purpose, to disband his crew and increase his
own share of the plunder they were carrying.

Now he marooned the most discontent of his men (they were later rescued by Stede Bonnet) and
sailed in a spare sloop to Bath with 60 of his best crew. At Bath, then capital of North Carolina,
they accepted a royal pardon from the governor, as part of a general pirate amnesty that had
been offered by the British government.

Blackbeard was not content with civilian life, and from his new base at Ocracoke Island in the
Outer Banks, he soon returned to piracy, robbing two French ships out at sea. Alexander
Spotswood, Lieutenant Governor of the neighbouring colony, Virginia, was outraged at the
prospect of having the infamous, recidivist pirate Blackbeard operating on his doorstep. Although
North Carolina was out of his jurisdiction, Spotswood organised a naval expedition to kill or
capture Blackbeard.

Led by Lieutenant Maynard, Royal Navy, the expedition caught Blackbeard by surprise at
Ocracoke Island. In the viscous battle that followed, Blackbeard was finally overpowered and
killed.
Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage for each answer.

 Blackbeard became a pirate around the year ______.

 Blackbeard captured a slave ship, called 'La ______'.

 Spanish sailors named him 'the great ______'.

 Blackbeard named his flagship '___________ ____________ _______________'.

 Blackbeard received a royal pardon from the ________ of Bath, North Carolina.

 Black beard was not happy with _________ life.

True or false (circle the correct answer):

 All of the slaves on 'La Concorde' joined Blackbeard's crew. TRUE / FALSE

 In 1720 Blackbeard sailed to the coast of Florida, where a Spanish treasure fleet had
been wrecked three years before. TRUE / FALSE

 Blackbeard blockaded the port of Charleston for six days. TRUE / FALSE

 When Blackbeard returned to piracy, he robbed two French ships. TRUE / FALSE

 The Royal Navy caught Blackbeard at Ocracoke Island, but he was ready for them.
TRUE / FALSE

 In the fight that followed, Blackbeard was defeated. TRUE / FALSE.