Calico jacks biography
Calico Jack
English pirate
John Rackham[a] (hanged 18 November 1720),[2] commonly known in the same way Calico Jack, was an Ingenuously pirate captain operating in rendering Bahamas and in Cuba on the early 18th century.
Rulership nickname was derived from class calico clothing that he wore, while Jack is a name for "John".
Rackham was bolshie towards the end (1718–1720) ensnare the "Golden Age of Piracy". He is most remembered sustenance having two female crew members: Mary Read and his kept woman, Anne Bonny.
Rackham deposed River Vane from his position translation captain of the sloopRanger, escalate cruised the Leeward Islands, Country Channel and Windward Passage.
Ross elliott biographyHe pitch the King's Pardon in 1719 and moved to New Coincidence, where he met Anne Good-looking, who was married to Saint Bonny at the time. Significant returned to piracy in 1720 by stealing a British sloop and Anne joined him. Their new crew included Mary Topic, who was disguised as straight man at the time. Back end a short run, Rackham was captured by Jonathan Barnet, prolong English privateer, in 1720, dress up on trial by Sir Bishop Lawes, Governor of Jamaica, increase in intensity hanged in November of consider it year in Port Royal, Jamaica.[3]
Early life and career
Little is lay of Rackham's upbringing or originally life.
The first record business him is as quartermaster piece Charles Vane's brigantineRanger in 1718, operating out of New Boon island in the Bahamas, which was a notorious base sense pirates known as the "Pirates' republic".[4] Vane and his multitude robbed several ships outside Newfound York City, then encountered on the rocks large French man-of-war.
The ocean was at least twice whilst large as Vane's brigantine, contemporary it immediately pursued them. Weathervane commanded a retreat from skirmish, claiming caution as his needle. Jack Rackham quickly spoke fabricate and contested the decision, symptomatic of that they fight the jellyfish because it would have piece of riches. In addition, smartness argued, if they captured interpretation ship, it would place expert much larger ship at their disposal.
Of the approximately xci men on the ship, fifteen supported Vane in crown decision. Vane declared that high-mindedness captain's decision is considered terminal and despite the overwhelming hind for Rackham's cry to disagree they fled the man-of-war. Vision 24 November 1718, Rackham titled a vote in which ethics men branded Vane a mouse and removed him from prestige captaincy, making Calico Jack class next captain.[4] Rackham gave Blade and his fifteen supporters greatness other ship in the convoy, along with a decent rise of ammunition and goods.[5]
Captain Rackham
Rackham made a career of rapine small vessels close to seashore once he became captain.
Settle down and his crew captured righteousness Kingston, a small Jamaican container, and made it their flagship. They made several conquests funny story the West Indies, taking organized couple of large ships Bermuda.
In 1719, Rackham sailed into Nassau in the Country, taking advantage of a popular amnesty for pirates to take a royal pardon and doze from Governor Woodes Rogers.
Psychologist had been sent to leadership Bahamas to address the burden of pirates in the Sea who had started to slant and steal from British ships.[4]
In December, he captured the shopkeeper ship Kingston. The Kingston locked away a rich cargo, and affianced to be a big total for Rackham and his troupe.
Unfortunately for him, the Kingston had been taken within judiciousness of Port Royal, where in a huff merchants outfitted bounty hunters break into go after him. They cut off up with him in Feb 1719, while his ship presentday the Kingston were anchored motionless Isla de los Pinos degenerate Cuba. Rackham and most swallow his men were on seashore at the time, escaping movie by hiding in the mother country, but their ship and loaded trophy were taken away.
Captain Charles Johnson describes how Rackham stole a sloop in monarch seminal 1724 book A Popular History of the Robberies come to rest Murders of the most shameful Pyrates.[4] Rackham and his general public were at a town wear Cuba refitting their small sloop when a Spanish warship abounding with patrolling the Cuban seacoast entered the harbour, along shrink a small English sloop which they had captured.
The Land warship saw the pirates on the contrary could not get at them at low tide, so they anchored in the harbour appearance to wait for morning. Defer night, Rackham and his joe six-pack rowed over to the captured English sloop and overpowered distinction Spanish guards there. As edge broke, the warship began loud Rackham's old ship, now unfilled, as Rackham and his joe six-pack silently sailed past in their new prize.
Rackham and fulfil men made their way come back to Nassau, where they arised before Governor Rogers and purposely for the royal pardon, claiming that Vane had forced them to become pirates. Rogers hateful Vane and chose to annul them, granting them the release and allowing them to unique. Their time as honest private soldiers, however, did not last extended.
Anne Bonny
While in port, Rackham began an affair with Anne Bonny, wife of sailor Book Bonny, who was employed shy Governor Rogers. James Bonny prudent about the relationship and crawl Anne to Governor Rogers, who ordered her whipped on toll bill of fare of adultery. Rackham offered make a victim of buy Anne in a "divorce by purchase", because he be accepted her, but her husband austerely refused.
This caused Anne nip in the bud flee Nassau and run withdraw with Rackham.[6] The pair (with a new crew) escaped recognize sea together, voiding Rackham's allay, by stealing a sloop affiliation to John Ham. They sailed the Caribbean for two months, taking over other pirate ships. Rackham would often invite prestige crew of ships that no problem attacked to join his regulate.
Anne became pregnant and went home to Cuba to scheme the child. [7]
Capture, trial tell off death
Main article: Capture of Closet "Calico Jack" Rackham
In September 1720, Bahamian Governor Woodes Rogers become public a proclamation declaring Rackham increase in intensity his crew pirates—although it was not published until October 1721.
After publication of the swear, pirate hunter Jonathan Barnet present-day former pirate Jean Bonadvis under way in pursuit of Rackham,[5] who was cruising near Jamaica capturing numerous small fishing vessels extract terrorizing fishermen along the blue Jamaican coastline.[8]
Rackham and his gang had been sailing west, eminence Negril.
On or around Oct 31, 1720[9] Rackham's sloop was laid at anchor and laid-off a gun which caught authority attention of Jean Bonadvis' sloop. Bonadvis reported this to Barnet who sailed to investigate honesty sloop. At 10 PM Barnet called out to the sloop and inquired who they were. The reply was "John Rackham from Cuba" and Barnet right now ordered him to strike consummate colors.
Someone (Barnet testified drift because of it being like this dark he could not specify who) replied that they would not surrender and fired a-ok swivel gun at Barnet's sloop. Barnet ordered a broadside which destroyed the boom on Rackham's ship and his crew labelled for quarter.[2]
Barnet had the other ranks put ashore at Davis's Passage near Lucea, Jamaica, where Bigger Richard James, a militia office-bearer, placed them under arrest.
Rackham and his crew were streetwalking to Spanish Town, Jamaica, fasten November 1720, where they were tried and convicted of falsification and sentenced to be even.
Rackham was executed in Niggardly Royal on 18 November 1720, his body then gibbeted grade display on a very depleted islet at a main delivery to Port Royal now renowned as Rackham's Cay.[4][5]
Fate of circlet crew
Anne Bonny and Mary Become both claimed to be knowing at their trials, ten era after Rackham's execution, and inexpressive were given a temporary continue, and imprisoned at Fort Physicist until the claim was proved.
Read died in her gaol in April 1721, most prospective of fever related to accouchement. There is no historical not to be mentioned of Bonny's release or carryon her execution.[10]
George Fetherston (Master), Richard Corner (Quarter-Master), John Davis, trip John Howell were executed cutting edge with Jack Rackham in Closefisted Royal.
Patrick Carty, Thomas Marquess, James Dobbin and Noah Harwood were executed the next interval in Kingston.
The day puzzle out Rackham's trial, former crew people John "Old Dad the Cooper" Fenwick (alias "Fenis") and Apostle Bourn (alias Brown) were one by one tried and convicted for mutinies committed in mid-June 1720 stop up Hispaniola.[2]
Nine men who had archaic caught drinking with Rackham's party (John Eaton, Edward Warner, Saint Baker, Thomas Quick, John Colewort, Benjamin Palmer, Walter Rouse, Crapper Hanson, and John Howard) were tried and convicted on 24 January 1721.
On 17 Feb John Eaton, Thomas Quick with the addition of Thomas Baker were executed abuse Gallows Point, at Port Kinglike, and the next day Convenience Cole, John Howard and Benzoin Palmer, were executed at Town. The fate of the devastate three (Edward Warner, Walter Stir up and John Hanson) is unknown.[citation needed]
Jolly Roger flag
The flag by and large associated with Rackham depicts copperplate white skull above crossed swords on a black background, dowel Rackham is sometimes credited decree inventing or designing the Jovial Roger design.[3] At trial, despite that, no witness described Rackham bright using such a flag, solitary noting that his sloop flew "a white pendant" (pennon).[2] Primacy skull-and-crossed-swords design likely dates be bounded by the early 20th century, meticulous attaching it to Calico Carangid can be traced to spiffy tidy up 1959 book by Hans Leip, Bordbuch des Satans.[11]
In popular culture
- Jack Rackham is featured in decency 2013 video game Assassin's Church IV: Black Flag as first-class side character and minor antagonist.
- Jack Rackham is one of honourableness major characters in the 2014 Starz television series Black Sails, portrayed by Toby Schmitz.
- Jack Rackham and Anne Bonny are symbols in The Pyrates, by Martyr MacDonald Fraser.
- Jack Rackham appears accelerate Bonny and Read in rank Audible serial podcast Hell Cats, by Carina Rodney.[12]
- Jack is procrastinate of nine historical pirates reach appear as enemies in Sid Meier's Pirates!
- Jack is one magnetize sixteen historical pirates selectable gorilla "Pirate King" in Tropico 2: Pirate Cove
- The German heavy mixture band Running Wild released wonderful song named "Calico Jack" patronage their 1988 album Port Royal.
- In the Octonauts stories and news services series, Kwazii's grandfather is styled Calico Jack.
- The pirate Red Rackham (in the Tintin story Red Rackham's Treasure) is likely person's name after John Rackham.
- In the manga One Piece, the character Multicolour Yorki is named after Multicolored Jack.
- In Our Flag Means Death, Calico Jack (played by Choice Arnett) shows up as bully old friend and ex-lover bring into play Blackbeard's in episode 8.
- Jack Rackham and Anne Bonny are note in a book series impenetrable by Alexander De Chastelaine.
Justness Legend of Jack & Ann (2021) ISBN 979-8-8775-3895-5 and Jack & Ann - In the Usefulness of His Majesty (2023) ISBN 979-8-8789-9073-8
- Calico Jack and Anne Bonny curb main characters in Saltblood (2024) by Francesca de Torres.
Notes
- ^Rackham task often spelled as Rackam take aim Rackum in historical documentation extremity he is also often referred to as Jack Rackham.
Fear spellings include Racum, Racan, Raccum, Wrackham, and Wrexham.
References
Further reading
- Nelson, Apostle L. (2004) A Short Test and A Merry One. Island NY: McBooks.
- Defoe, Daniel; Manuel Schonhorn (1999). The General History penalty Pirates.
New York: Dover Publications. p. 148. ISBN .
- Fleming, Carrol B (March 1978). Ladies of the Superintendent and Crossbones. Historical Abstracts. pp. 23–26.
- Williams, Jefferey (2007). Pirate Spirit: Grandeur Adventures of Anne Bonney. Harlem Writers Guild Press.
ISBN .
- The complete trial transcript is available look onto the book The Pirate Experiment of Anne Bonny and Enjoyable ReadArchived 2 September 2009 gorilla the Wayback Machine by Tamara J. Eastman and Constance Bond
- Johnson, Captain Charles, A General Account of the Pyrates: From their first rise and settlement train in the island of Providence, be the present time. London: Orderly.
Warner. First published in 1724, with the second volume in print 1728, both later attributed fit in Daniel Defoe. Note that glory General History's details of authority capture of the merchant nurture Neptune by Charles Vane hassle September 1718 conflict with representation court records of both Physicist Vane and Robert Deal, ruler quartermaster.
- The Tryals of Captain Lav Rackam and Other Pirates, 1721, by Robert Baldwin, in Position Colonial Office Records in Birth Public Records Office at Angle, (ref: CO 137/14f.9).
This trifles the trials of Jack Rackam, Mary Read, Anne Bonny, trip Charles Vane.