Famous Pirate - Blackbeard
Perhaps the most famous, and most feared pirate was Blackbeard, also known as Edward Teach. Blackbeard acquired his nickname due to his long, black beard. He was an intimidating presence as he was a giant of a man. It's been said that when he was preparing to attack a ship, he'd strap pistols to his chest that were ready to fire.
Cutlass and daggers were also two of his weapons of choice and he often had them attached to his sides. Just before he would board the vessel that he planned to attack, he would tie red ribbons into his hair. To these ribbons he would attach slow burning fuse matches to make his appearance even more intimidating and give him the appearance of the devil.
For years, Blackbeard roamed the East coast and the Caribbean. He grew very rich and had many homes. It 's been said that he had as many as thirteen wives. On the morning of November 22, 1718, the residents of North Carolina spotted Blackbeard's ship, the Queen Anne's Revenge, and complained to the Governor of Virginia. The Governor sent out a ship to capture or kill the pirate.
Soon after, a battle took place between the two ships. A cannonball from Blackbeard's ship stranded the Virginia vessel on a sandbank Blackbeard raised his flag, lit the matches in his hair, and pulled up along the ship. The sailors began a vicious fight and Blackbeard and Maynard, the captain of the Virginia vessel, faced each other one-on-one in a swordfight.
Blackbeard managed to break Maynard's sword in half with his cutlass but before he could kill Maynard, another sailor came behind Blackbeard and drew his sword. After swinging with everything he had, Blackbeard's head fell to the deck.
Maynard took Blackbeard's head and tied it to the ship so everyone would know that the legendary pirate was dead. The crew threw his body overboard and it's been said that Blackbeard's headless body circled the boat three times before it sank.
Legend now has it that on early mornings off of the North Carolina coast, you can still see Blackbeard's ship sailing through the inlet, ready to do battle.
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