Mary Read was an English pirate who, according to contemporary accounts, spent parts of her early life disguised as a man, including service in the military, before joining piracy in the Caribbean. She served aboard Jack Rackham’s Revenge alongside Anne Bonny. Captured in 1720, she was convicted of piracy but avoided immediate execution due to pregnancy. Most accounts state she died in jail, though the exact circumstances are not firmly documented.
Quick Facts
| Real Name | Mary Read |
|---|---|
| Aliases | Mark Read |
| Born | c. 1690 (unverified) |
| Died | 1721 (reported, unverified) |
| Nationality | English |
| Years Active | 1718-1720 |
| Known Ships | Revenge |
| Fate | Captured with Rackham's crew in 1720; convicted of piracy but escaped hanging by pleading pregnancy; reportedly died in prison of fever in 1721, though burial records are disputed |
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