While Grace O’Malley (Gráinne Ní Mháille) is perhaps the most famous of the Irish pirates, there were quite a few other Irish pirates throughout history that missed out on wider acclaim.
These pirates operated during different periods and in various parts of the world, from the Caribbean to the Indian Ocean. Their stories contribute to Irish maritime history and the broader history of piracy. While these pirates gained notoriety, their actions were illegal and often violent. The romanticisation of piracy in movies often overlooks the sometimes savage acts carried out by them. So let’s just keep that in mind!
Irish Pirates: Anne Bonny (1697-1720)
Born in Cork, Ireland, Anne Bonny became one of the most famous pirates of the 18th century. Anne was known for her fierce fighting skills and was one of the few women known to have engaged in piracy during the Golden Age of Piracy. Anne’s father was William Cormac, a lawyer, and her mother was Cormac’s maid. Due to the scandal of her illegitimate birth, Cormac moved the family to Charles Town (now Charleston), South Carolina, when Anne was young. In Charles Town, Cormac became a successful merchant and plantation owner.
Anne grew up in relative comfort but was known for her fiery temper and unconventional behaviour for a woman of her time. Around 1718, at age 16, Anne married a poor sailor named James Bonny, against her father’s wishes. This led to her father disowning her. James Bonny took his new wife to Nassau in the Bahamas, a notorious pirate haven at the time. In Nassau, Anne became acquainted with many pirates who frequented the port. She soon became dissatisfied with her marriage and began an affair with John “Calico Jack” Rackham, a pirate captain. When her husband tried to turn her over to the authorities for consorting with pirates, Anne and Rackham escaped together. She joined his crew, disguising herself as a man at first.
Life as Crew
Anne proved to be a capable and fierce pirate. She participated in raids and battles alongside the male crew members. During this time, another female pirate, Mary Read (who was also disguising herself as a man), joined the crew. Bonny and Read became close friends and formidable fighters. Bonny was known for her quick temper and readiness to fight. She carried pistols and a cutlass and was said to be as competent in combat as any male pirate. In October 1720, Rackham’s ship was attacked by a British Navy vessel. Most of the male crew, including Rackham, were too drunk to fight effectively. Bonny, Read, and possibly one or two others were said to have put up the only real resistance.
The entire crew was captured and taken to Jamaica for trial. Bonny and Read “pleaded their bellies” (claimed pregnancy) and received stays of execution. Rackham and the male crew members were hanged. The historical record is unclear about what happened to Anne after her trial. Some sources suggest she was eventually released and returned to Charles Town, where she lived out her life. Others claim she remarried and lived in Jamaica. The lack of clear records has added to the mystique surrounding her life.
Anne Bonny (1697-1720)
Irish Pirates: Edward Seegar / Edward England (c1680-1720)
Edward England was born Edward Seegar in Ireland, likely in the 1680s. Details of his early life are scarce, as is common for many pirates of this era. He is believed to have come from a working-class background. Like many who eventually turned to piracy, England started his maritime career as a legitimate sailor. He worked on merchant ships and possibly as a privateer (a private person or ship authorised by a government to attack foreign vessels during wartime). England’s transition to piracy occurred around 1717. He was serving aboard a slave ship when it was captured by the pirate Christopher Winter. As was common practice, England was given the choice to join the pirate crew or face potential death. He chose to become a pirate. England quickly proved his worth and rose through the ranks.
By 1718, he had been given command of his own ship, the Pearl. He renamed it the Royal James, possibly as a mocking reference to King James. England primarily operated in the Indian Ocean and off the coast of Africa. This was a common area for pirates of the time, as it allowed them to prey on rich merchant ships traveling between Europe and the East Indies. Some of his notable exploits include capturing several large prizes, including East India Company ships. He also established a pirate base on the island of Madagascar.
Edward Seegar / Edward England (c1680-1720)
Kindness: A Weakness
What set England apart from many of his contemporaries was his reputation for being relatively kind and merciful. He was known to treat captured crews and passengers with respect, often releasing them unharmed and sometimes even returning captured ships to their crews. This behaviour was unusual among pirates and earned him a reputation as a “gentleman pirate.” However, it also caused tension with his own crew, who often felt they were missing out on potential profits due to England’s leniency. England’s kindness ultimately led to his downfall.
In 1720, after he released a captured ship instead of sinking it (which could have led to the capture of his own crew), his men mutinied. They marooned England and a few loyal crew members on the island of Mauritius. England and his companions managed to build a small boat and sailed to Madagascar. However, the hardships of this journey and the harsh conditions on Madagascar took their toll. England died on the island, likely in late 1720 or early 1721, reportedly due to tropical illness. Edward England’s story stands out in the history of piracy due to his unusual reputation for kindness. His career demonstrates the complex and often contradictory nature of pirate life during the Golden Age of Piracy. While he engaged in illegal and violent activities, his attempts to show mercy and maintain a code of ethics ultimately led to his downfall.
Irish Pirates: William Lewis (active early 18th century)
William Lewis was an Irish pirate who operated in the Caribbean and off the coast of Africa. He was known for his cruelty and for amassing significant wealth through his piracy. Lewis was born in Ireland, though the exact location and date are unknown. Like many who turned to piracy, he likely came from a modest background and sought opportunities at sea. Lewis operated primarily in two regions.
Firstly, the Caribbean. It was a hotbed of piracy during this period due to the rich merchant traffic between Europe and the Americas. He also crossed over to the West African coast. Another lucrative area for pirates, as it was a key route for slave ships and vessels carrying gold and other valuable commodities. Unlike some pirates who cultivated a reputation for mercy, Lewis became known for his cruelty. This reputation likely stemmed from his treatment of captured crews and passengers. Pirates often used fear as a tactic to encourage quick surrender of merchant ships.
Lewis was successful in amassing significant wealth through his piracy. This would have come from capturing ships, stealing their cargo, and possibly ransoming wealthy passengers. The fact that he operated in both the Caribbean and off Africa suggests he was able to sustain his operations for some time, likely through a combination of skill and ruthlessness. While specific details of Lewis’s captures and battles are not widely recorded, his reputation and reported wealth suggest he must have had several successful raids on merchant shipping. The ultimate fate of William Lewis is not clearly recorded. Many pirates of this era met violent ends – either in battle, by execution if captured, or at the hands of their own crews. However, some did manage to retire with their accumulated wealth. With Lewis, this remains a mystery.
William Lewis (active early 18th century)
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