John Gow was a Scottish sailor who led a mutiny aboard the merchant ship George off Spain in 1724, renaming it Revenge and turning to piracy. He sailed to his home waters in the Orkney Islands, where his ship ran aground and he was captured by local residents. He was tried in London and executed in 1725; his story later inspired Sir Walter Scott’s novel The Pirate.
Quick Facts
| Real Name | John Gow |
|---|---|
| Aliases | John Smith |
| Born | 1698 |
| Died | 1725-06-11 |
| Nationality | Scottish |
| Years Active | 1724-1725 |
| Known Ships | Revenge (formerly George) |
| Fate | Captured after his ship ran aground near his native Orkney Islands; tried and hanged at Execution Dock, London, on June 11, 1725 |
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