Stede Bonnet was a wealthy Barbadian plantation owner who, unusually for a pirate captain, purchased his own ship, the Revenge, and turned to piracy in 1717 with no prior maritime background, reportedly to escape an unhappy marriage. He briefly sailed in consort with Blackbeard, who took over command of his ship for a time. Bonnet was captured off the Carolina coast and hanged in Charleston in December 1718.
Quick Facts
| Real Name | Stede Bonnet |
|---|---|
| Aliases | The Gentleman Pirate |
| Born | 1688 |
| Died | 1718-12-10 |
| Nationality | English (Barbadian) |
| Years Active | 1717-1718 |
| Known Ships | Revenge |
| Flag | A white skull above a horizontal bone, with a heart and a dagger |
| Fate | Captured by Colonel William Rhett's forces at the Battle of Cape Fear River; tried and hanged in Charleston, South Carolina, on December 10, 1718 |
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