Today, we’re diving into the fascinating story of Stede Bonnet, a pirate unlike any other. Known as the “Gentleman Pirate,” Bonnet’s tale is one of luxury, adventure, and ultimately, tragedy. Unlike most pirates, Bonnet hailed from a life of wealth and privilege. He was well-educated and influential in high society, yet he chose to abandon it all for the unpredictable life of piracy. What drove him to make such a drastic change remains a mystery, but it certainly makes his story unique.
Born in 1688 on the island of Barbados, Stede Bonnet inherited a large plantation from his parents. He was raised to be a respectable member of society and married Mary Allen in 1709, with whom he had four children. Bonnet’s life seemed perfect; he was wealthy, had a thriving plantation, and served as a major in the local militia. Yet, in 1717, he made the puzzling decision to become a pirate, leaving behind his comfortable life.
Why did Bonnet turn to piracy? Historians and contemporaries have speculated various reasons. Some suggest he was bored and sought excitement, while others believe he might have been escaping marital issues or financial troubles. Despite these theories, Bonnet never revealed his true motivations, leaving us to wonder about his drastic life choice.
Unlike other pirates, Bonnet didn’t steal his ship; he bought it. Naming it “The Revenge,” he equipped it with ten cannons and hired a crew, paying them salaries from his own pocket. Despite his lack of sailing and combat skills, Bonnet managed to capture several ships, including those off the coast of Virginia and South Carolina. His success was more due to his crew’s expertise than his own abilities.
In Nassau, Bonnet met the infamous pirate Blackbeard. The two formed an unlikely alliance, with Bonnet becoming a guest aboard Blackbeard’s ship. Although this partnership initially benefited Bonnet, he soon realized he was more of a prisoner than a partner. Blackbeard’s influence over Bonnet’s crew made it clear that Bonnet’s authority was tenuous at best.
In 1718, Bonnet and Blackbeard sought pardons from the governor of North Carolina, thanks to a proclamation by King George I offering clemency to pirates. While Blackbeard moved on, Bonnet lingered, hoping to become a privateer. However, Blackbeard betrayed him, stripping “The Revenge” of its supplies and leaving Bonnet stranded.
Despite the betrayal, Bonnet regained command of his ship and sought revenge against Blackbeard. Although he never caught him, Bonnet’s piracy continued under the alias “Captain Thomas.” He captured several ships, proving himself a more competent pirate than before. However, his success attracted the attention of colonial authorities.
Bonnet’s piracy came to an end when Colonel William Rhett, a pirate hunter, captured him in the Cape Fear River estuary. Bonnet was tried and executed for his crimes, sharing the fate of many pirates of his time. His story remains a captivating tale of a man who defied societal norms and paid the ultimate price.
Stede Bonnet’s life is a testament to the allure and danger of the pirate’s life. His journey from a gentleman to a pirate captain highlights the complexities of human nature and the unpredictable paths we sometimes choose.
Research the daily life of pirates during the Golden Age of Piracy. Focus on aspects such as their social structure, living conditions, and code of conduct. Prepare a presentation to share your findings with the class, highlighting how Stede Bonnet’s life as a pirate compared to the typical pirate lifestyle.
Participate in a debate about Stede Bonnet’s possible motivations for becoming a pirate. Form teams to argue different theories, such as boredom, financial troubles, or personal issues. Use historical evidence and logical reasoning to support your arguments and challenge opposing views.
Write a short story from the perspective of a crew member aboard “The Revenge.” Incorporate historical facts about Stede Bonnet’s pirate career and interactions with Blackbeard. Use creative storytelling to explore the crew’s experiences and Bonnet’s leadership style.
Create a detailed map tracing Stede Bonnet’s journey from Barbados to his various pirate exploits along the American coast. Include key locations such as Nassau and the Cape Fear River. Annotate the map with brief descriptions of significant events that occurred at each location.
Examine the historical records of Stede Bonnet’s trial and execution. Analyze the legal proceedings and the charges brought against him. Discuss in a group setting how the trial reflects the legal and social attitudes towards piracy in the early 18th century.
Here’s a sanitized version of the provided YouTube transcript:
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Just before we get started, some of you might know that I have another channel called Mega Projects, which is all about mega projects. If you don’t, please do subscribe to it! By popular demand, I wanted to cover some topics on that channel that weren’t quite mega enough, so I present to you a brand new channel: Side Projects. This channel will cover secret Soviet space weapons, World War II’s greatest airplanes, history’s lost treasures, and a whole lot more. New videos will be released three times a week on that channel, so if you’re thinking I don’t make enough videos for you, well, problem solved! Link below, and let’s get into it.
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Today, we take a look at a pirate unlike any other: Steed Bonnet, the gentleman pirate. He was so called because he came from a life of luxury and leisure. He was wealthy, well-educated, and influential in high society, yet he left that life behind to become a pirate. His motivation, whatever it was, already makes him unique among the pirates we’ve covered on this channel. Another original aspect of Bonnet was that he was completely ill-prepared for life as a pirate captain; he didn’t know how to sail, navigate, or fight. However, that did not deter him in the slightest, although it did cause some friction with his men. This almost makes him a comical character, especially when compared to his peers. To everyone’s surprise, he wasn’t the most terrible pirate in the world; he took his fair share of prizes and secured long-lasting notoriety for himself, mainly due to his association with Blackbeard. In the end, though, Steed Bonnet proved to be a tragic figure, as the rest of the world was not impressed or amused by his antics, and ultimately, he shared the same harsh fate as most of his confederates.
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Steed Bonnet was born in 1688 on the island of Barbados. He came from a wealthy family, as his parents owned a large plantation a couple of miles from the Barbadian capital of Bridgetown. He inherited it all once his parents died. He received a good education and was brought up to be a proper and upstanding member of society. As a young adult, Bonnet married a woman named Mary Allen in 1709, and together they had four children. Over the years, he saw his standing in society steadily improve. His wife was also the daughter of a wealthy planter, so he received a large dowry by marrying her, and his own plantation seemed to thrive. He joined the British Army and served in the local militia, where he attained the rank of major. In other words, Steed Bonnet seemingly had everything that a man of the era could ever want, yet he did something strange in 1717—something that puzzled his contemporaries and still puzzles historians to this day. He gave up his life and decided he wanted to become a pirate.
What exactly prompted Bonnet to do this remains a mystery. The main motives for men turning to piracy in those days were typically financial desperation, the desire to escape oppression, or being forced into it. None of these applied to Steed Bonnet; he was considered a gentleman of leisure and wealth who had the means to live comfortably. For some reason, this did not appeal to him. Instead, he preferred to risk his life on the high seas. Why did he do it? Both his contemporaries and modern historians have offered their opinions. Some believe he was bored and wanted excitement in his life. If this is true, then Steed Bonnet should definitely be in contention for the most extreme midlife crisis in history. Others thought he might have suffered from some kind of mental illness, while Charles Johnson, in his seminal account “A General History of Pirates,” claimed that Bonnet wanted to leave his old life behind due to discomforts he found in married life, implying that he was trying to escape from his wife. There is also a possibility that his financial situation may not have been as comfortable as previously suggested, as there is a record of him borrowing £1,700 at the start of the year. Perhaps a poor harvesting season left him in dire straits, and Bonnet thought he had no alternative but to turn to piracy, or maybe he had already made up his mind and knew he would never have to pay the loan back. Ultimately, all of these hypotheses remain guesswork since Bonnet himself never provided an explicit reason.
Speaking of Charles Johnson, we often start off these pirate biographies specifying that he is the main source and that he’s not particularly reliable, so everything has to be taken with a grain of salt. However, that is not necessarily true in this case, because although “A General History of Pirates” remains an important source, we actually have a more trustworthy secondary one. Steed Bonnet was arrested and tried for piracy, and a detailed account of his trial in South Carolina was published and survives to this day. So we have corroboration of the things he did as a pirate.
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As mentioned, in 1717, Steed Bonnet left his life behind to become a pirate. Unlike every other pirate captain, Bonnet did not steal his ship; he purchased it. It was a sloop, which he named “The Revenge,” and he had it fitted with ten cannons. He also hired his crew of around 70 to 80 men, who received a monthly salary paid out of Bonnet’s own pocket instead of simply awarding them a share of the plunder. This was probably done out of necessity, as a pirate crew could depose their captain for incompetence and vote on someone else to take his place. This was likely the only way Bonnet could have maintained his captaincy, given that he knew almost nothing about sailing, navigation, or maritime warfare. Once Bonnet had his ship ready and his crew assembled, he needed to wait for the right opportunity. “The Revenge” stayed quietly in the harbor for a few days, and everyone who inquired was simply told that Bonnet purchased it to start trading with nearby islands. Then one night, without a word to his family or friends, the captain abandoned his life of leisure and set sail on the high seas, headed for the eastern coast of North America.
You might think this haphazard approach to piracy would be a recipe for disaster, but Steed Bonnet was surprisingly successful. He took his first prizes off the coast of Virginia, where he plundered not one, not two, but four ships in a short amount of time: the Anne, the Turbot, the Young, and the Endeavor. Two of them sailed out of Scotland, and one out of England, and those were free to go after being plundered. The Turbot, however, was set to sail from Barbados, and Bonnet insisted on having it confiscated and burned down. He would go on to repeat this with other ships from his native island. We’re not sure if he did this to prevent word of his actions from reaching back home or if he harbored some kind of resentment for Barbados. Anyway, after Virginia, Bonnet headed for New York, where he captured another sloop and then resupplied his ship. According to his trial documents, by August 1717, “The Revenge” was already heading back south to the coast of South Carolina when he captured two more ships. The first was a sloop from Barbados carrying sugar, rum, and slaves, captained by a man named Joseph Palmer, and the second was a brigantine from New England under Captain Thomas Porter. Again, Bonnet burned down the ship from Barbados. This initial run proved to be quite successful, although realistically, this was more due to the skill and expertise of the crew rather than Bonnet himself. By this point, most of the pirates probably figured out that their captain was a complete rookie when it came to all seafaring matters, and some discontent had already started brewing.
It was decided that they would make land for a while and go somewhere where they could actually spend some of their ill-gotten gains. “The Revenge” set sail for Nassau in the Bahamas, which was a pirate haven at that time. There, Steed Bonnet made the acquaintance of numerous other sea dogs, including Captain Edward Teach, better known as the infamous Blackbeard.
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Right off the bat, we should mention that from this point on, the careers of Blackbeard and Bonnet intertwined for a little while. We’ve already done a video on Blackbeard, so if you’d like to get more of the story from that perspective, why not check out that video? Anyway, Blackbeard was a skilled and experienced captain, respected and feared by his crew. He was the antithesis of Steed Bonnet, and yet somehow, the two struck up a relationship and decided to sail together for a while. Many would say that Blackbeard was simply using Bonnet to strengthen his own fleet, and they would probably be right. This was before Edward Teach had gotten his hands on the Queen Anne’s Revenge, his main flagship for most of his practical career. Having Bonnet’s Revenge on his side would have been a significant advantage. This worked out well for Bonnet at first, as having someone like Blackbeard in charge probably quelled any desire to leave or revolt that might have been developing among Bonnet’s crew.
So the fleet left Nassau with Steed Bonnet officially a guest aboard Blackbeard’s ship, while a lieutenant named Richards had been given temporary command of “The Revenge.” They proved to be a formidable force in the waters surrounding the Bahamas and took at least a dozen prizes on their way to the east coast of America. Again, going by court records, by the time they reached North Carolina, they had four ships in their fleet and between 300 to 400 fighting men. You might think this would be a good thing for Steed Bonnet, as he set out to be a pirate captain without actually knowing what that entailed and was now part of one of the most powerful and feared convoys in American waters. However, that was not the case. In fact, Bonnet was quite depressed, as he realized what he truly was: a prisoner who willingly gave up command of his ship to his own captor. Sure, on the surface, his relationship with Teach was still cordial, and he wasn’t deprived of his share of the plunder, but Bonnet understood that this would only continue as long as he played the role of the content guest. Any attempt to reclaim his authority over “The Revenge” would have likely put an end to all niceties, and worst of all, Bonnet would have probably discovered that most of his men preferred to sail under Blackbeard anyway.
In private, Bonnet confessed to some of the men loyal to him that he felt tired and shameful for his actions, and if possible, he would have gladly left the pirate life behind and started somewhere fresh in Spain or Portugal, as he could not bear to face a fellow Englishman. Alas, it seemed the only way he would regain command of his ship was if Blackbeard decided to surrender it. According to certain versions of the story, this is exactly what happened. They say that once Blackbeard captured Le Concorde, which he renamed to the Queen Anne’s Revenge, he had no more need for Bonnet’s ship and let him go independent again. Once this happened, Bonnet immediately forgot any plans about giving up the pirate life and assumed command of “The Revenge” again.
However, his newfound autonomy did not last long. His inexperience once again caused problems with the crew after an ill-fated attempt to plunder a well-armed merchantman named the Protestant Caesar in the waters of Honduras in the spring of 1718. Not only did he fail, but Bonnet was injured in the skirmish, leaving him unfit for duty. Soon afterwards, he ran into Blackbeard’s fleet again, and his own men pleaded with the other captain to assume command of “The Revenge” once more, which he did. Bonnet once again found himself Blackbeard’s guest prisoner. Some accounts, like that of Charles Johnson, make no mention of this brief period of independence, so whether or not it happened is actually a matter of some debate.
We do know, however, when Blackbeard and Bonnet severed their ties completely, and that’s just a few months later. In May 1718, Blackbeard used his fleet to blockade the port city of Charleston, South Carolina. Afterwards, the ships traveled to Topsail Island off the coast of North Carolina, which was a popular resting and hiding spot for pirates. There, the Queen Anne’s Revenge ran aground and became unsalvageable, as did one of the smallest sloops in the fleet. With two ships lost, Blackbeard decided that it might be a good idea to get a pardon from the governor of North Carolina, a man named Charles Eden. All pirates were free to do this in an effort to make the waters of the Atlantic safer. King George I of Britain issued a proclamation for suppressing pirates in the West Indies, which became known as the King’s Pardon of 1718. Basically, it was a one-time offer available to any pirate, no matter how heinous their criminal activities were, as long as they applied before the deadline. Not only would their slate be wiped clean, but they could also receive a commission to become a pirate hunter and take down their former confederates who did not accept the King’s pardon.
Blackbeard and Bonnet traveled to the city of Bath and obtained pardons for themselves and their crews from Governor Eden. Blackbeard and his men then left on their way, but Bonnet stayed behind for a while, hoping to get permission to become a privateer. During the time that he had been a pirate, England went to war against Spain, so he thought he could continue where he left off and be on the right side of the law by only targeting Spanish merchants. Eventually, Bonnet was told that he could go to the island of Saint Thomas, from where he could obtain a privateer’s commission. When he finally returned to his ship, Bonnet discovered one last treachery from Blackbeard. The other pirate captain had stripped “The Revenge” of all supplies, loot, and useful materials, placed them aboard the other remaining sloop, and took off. Many scholars now believe that this had been his plan all along and that he intentionally wrecked the Queen Anne’s Revenge to have an excuse to disband his large crew.
As for Steed Bonnet, he might have been stranded on Topsail Island, but at least he was in command of “The Revenge” again. Furthermore, his crew hated Blackbeard, so it was decided that once the ship was repaired and seaworthy again, they would go in pursuit of the one who had betrayed them. Once they set off, they soon noticed a group of about 20 men marooned on a nearby sandbar. Bonnet rescued them and discovered that they were part of Blackbeard’s crew, left behind because Blackbeard had too many hands on deck for just one ship. As you might imagine, they also wanted revenge against their former captain and were glad to join Bonnet’s ranks. Bonnet was still much more inexperienced in matters of warfare than Blackbeard, but he had the bigger ship, the bigger crew, and his men were highly motivated by their desire for vengeance.
It would have been an interesting part of pirate history and a fitting end to their chapter if the two met up again and engaged in one final battle. Unfortunately, this never happened. Bonnet had heard that Blackbeard had moored his ship in an estuary called Ocracoke Inlet, but by the time he got there, he found it empty and never encountered the treacherous Blackbeard again. With “The Revenge” no longer an option, Bonnet wanted to return to his previous plan: travel to Saint Thomas and receive a letter of marque to become a privateer against Spain. However, there was a problem. Because Blackbeard had stolen all of their supplies, they needed water, food, and liquor. But that posed another problem: they couldn’t just plunder a ship, as technically they weren’t pirates anymore since they had accepted the King’s pardon. This was a one-time deal, and if they broke it now, there would be no turning back. They couldn’t buy anything either, as Blackbeard had also made off with their treasure.
In the end, they encountered a merchant ship full of goods and forced it to trade with them. They made off with barrels full of pork and bread and left behind a few casks of rice and an old cable, which was the chain holding the anchor. They were probably hoping to get away with it on a technicality since they committed an act of trade, not piracy, even though it had been basically forced at gunpoint and heavily one-sided. They still didn’t have any liquor, though, and for pirates, that was like not having air to breathe. This is why a couple of days later, they plundered, I mean traded, with another ship, which provided them with two hogsheads of rum and two of molasses. It is uncertain what Bonnet planned to give them in exchange, as the other ship took advantage of an opportunity and fled before the transaction was completed. After this, all pretenses were dropped, and they became full-fledged pirates again, pardon be damned. As a precaution, though, Bonnet did change his name to Captain Thomas and the name of his ship to the Royal James, hoping that maybe this might conceal his identity.
He spent a short time as Captain Thomas, but it was his most successful time. Clearly, he was no longer the same inexperienced, naive man he was when he started. He was more respected, even feared. Some historians claim that Steed Bonnet was one of the few real pirates to actually make prisoners walk the plank, as this was a practice mostly popularized by the book “Treasure Island” by Robert Louis Stevenson. Bonnet prowled the waters of the Carolinas, traveling up north into Virginia and Delaware, capturing almost a dozen ships, of which two he kept and added to his fleet.
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After a few profitable months at sea, Bonnet needed a place to make land and careen his ship for repairs. He chose the estuary of Cape Fear River in North Carolina. Hurricane season was approaching, so this was intended to be quite a long stay. Unfortunately for Bonnet, these last few successful months had also increased his profile significantly. Charles Eden, the governor of North Carolina, might have been somewhat indifferent to pirate activity, but his neighboring counterparts were not as amenable. The governors of the colonies knew that they had dangerous pirates in their waters and wanted them dealt with. Consequently, the governor of South Carolina, Robert Johnson, ordered a man named Colonel William Rhett to arm two pirate hunters and set sail to rid the colony of any pirates. The same thing happened with the governor of Virginia, who sent out his own men to take down Blackbeard. As far as Rhett is concerned, we’re not sure if he specifically targeted Steed Bonnet or if he intended to attack any pirate he encountered. Some have said that he simply stumbled upon Bonnet’s fleet while looking
History – The study of past events, particularly in human affairs. – The history of theater reveals how performances have evolved from ancient rituals to modern-day productions.
Piracy – The practice of attacking and robbing ships at sea, often romanticized in literature and film. – The depiction of piracy in the 18th century often highlights the tension between lawlessness and the pursuit of freedom.
Adventure – An unusual and exciting, typically hazardous, experience or activity. – The adventure of exploring uncharted territories has been a recurring theme in historical narratives and performing arts.
Society – A community of people living together and sharing customs, laws, and organizations. – The role of theater in society has been to reflect cultural values and challenge social norms throughout history.
Motives – Reasons for doing something, especially those that are hidden or not obvious. – Understanding the motives behind historical events can provide deeper insights into the actions of key figures.
Career – An occupation undertaken for a significant period of a person’s life, often with opportunities for progress. – Many actors in the 19th century pursued a career in theater, despite the challenges of the profession.
Betrayal – The act of being disloyal or treacherous to a person, group, or principle. – Betrayal has been a central theme in many historical dramas, illustrating the complexities of human relationships.
Authority – The power or right to give orders, make decisions, and enforce obedience. – The authority of monarchs in history often influenced the development of the arts, including patronage of theater.
Execution – The carrying out of a plan, order, or course of action, often with precision and skill. – The execution of a theatrical performance requires careful coordination and rehearsal to ensure its success.
Captain – The person in command of a ship, or a leader in charge of a group. – In historical narratives, the captain often symbolizes leadership and responsibility during perilous voyages.
