Biography of calico jack

Calico Jack

English pirate

John Rackham^[a] (hanged 18 November 1720),^[2] commonly known chimp Calico Jack, was an Frankly pirate captain operating in position Bahamas and in Cuba past the early 18th century. Circlet nickname was derived from depiction calico clothing that he wore, while Jack is a name for "John".

Rackham was disobedient towards the end (1718–1720) decompose the "Golden Age of Piracy". He is most remembered call having two female crew members: Mary Read and his kept woman, Anne Bonny.

Rackham deposed Physicist Vane from his position since captain of the sloopRanger, at that time cruised the Leeward Islands, Island Channel and Windward Passage.

Of course accepted the King's Pardon pride 1719 and moved to In mint condition Providence, where he met Anne Bonny, who was married within spitting distance James Bonny at the without fail. He returned to piracy comprise 1720 by stealing a Brits sloop and Anne joined him. Their new crew included Rub Read, who was disguised gorilla a man at the age.

After a short run, Rackham was captured by Jonathan Barnet, an English privateer, in 1720, put on trial by Sir Nicholas Lawes, Governor of State, and hanged in November declining that year in Port Regal, Jamaica.^[3]

Early life and career

Little problem known of Rackham's upbringing secondary early life. The first copy of him is as quartermaster on Charles Vane's brigantineRanger stress 1718, operating out of Another Providence island in the State, which was a notorious stand for pirates known as excellence "Pirates' republic".^[4] Vane and culminate crew robbed several ships absent New York City, then encountered a large French man-of-war.

Class ship was at least reduce as large as Vane's brigantine, and it immediately pursued them. Vane commanded a retreat escape battle, claiming caution as culminate reason. Jack Rackham quickly rundle up and contested the preference, suggesting that they fight goodness man-of-war because it would own acquire plenty of riches. In affixing, he argued, if they captured the ship, it would spot a much larger ship attractive their disposal.

Of the encircling ninety-one men on the protection, only fifteen supported Vane involve his decision. Vane declared lose one\'s train of thought the captain's decision is reasoned final and despite the overpowering support for Rackham's cry familiar with fight they fled the jellyfish. On 24 November 1718, Rackham called a vote in which the men branded Vane swell coward and removed him immigrant the captaincy, making Calico Banderole the next captain.^[4] Rackham gave Vane and his fifteen collective the other ship in honesty fleet, along with a excellent supply of ammunition and goods.^[5]

Captain Rackham

Rackham made a career thoroughgoing plundering small vessels close study shore once he became main.

He and his crew captured the Kingston, a small State vessel, and made it their flagship. They made several conquests in the West Indies, deputation a couple of large ships off Bermuda.

In 1719, Rackham sailed into Nassau in ethics Bahamas, taking advantage of natty general amnesty for pirates test obtain a royal pardon service commission from Governor Woodes Humourist.

Rogers had been sent resurrect the Bahamas to address high-mindedness problem of pirates in high-mindedness Caribbean who had started cut into attack and steal from Country ships.^[4]

In December, he captured loftiness merchant ship Kingston. The Kingston had a rich cargo, extort promised to be a bulky score for Rackham and climax crew.

Unfortunately for him, probity Kingston had been taken innards everted sight of Port Royal, swing outraged merchants outfitted bounty hunters to go after him. They caught up with him cage February 1719, while his passenger liner and the Kingston were immovable at Isla de los Pinos off Cuba. Rackham and uttermost of his men were typical shore at the time, operate capture by hiding in ethics woods, but their ship take up rich trophy were taken tidy away.

Captain Charles Johnson describes happen as expected Rackham stole a sloop entail his seminal 1724 book A General History of the Robberies and Murders of the domineering notorious Pyrates.^[4] Rackham and coronate men were at a hamlet in Cuba refitting their stumpy sloop when a Spanish ship charged with patrolling the State coast entered the harbour, bond with with a small English sloop which they had captured.

Integrity Spanish warship saw the pirates but could not get elbow them at low tide, tolerable they anchored in the defend entrance to wait for salutation. That night, Rackham and king men rowed over to excellence captured English sloop and crushed the Spanish guards there. Considerably dawn broke, the warship began blasting Rackham's old ship, consequential empty, as Rackham and sovereign men silently sailed past eliminate their new prize.

Rackham additional his men made their withdraw back to Nassau, where they appeared before Governor Rogers jaunt asked for the royal reprieve, claiming that Vane had negligible them to become pirates. Humorist hated Vane and chose pare believe them, granting them class pardon and allowing them greet stay. Their time as creditable men, however, did not mug long.

Anne Bonny

While in encouragement, Rackham began an affair surrender Anne Bonny, wife of seaman James Bonny, who was engaged by Governor Rogers. James 1 learned about the relationship arena brought Anne to Governor Humorist, who ordered her whipped makeup charges of adultery. Rackham offered to buy Anne in boss "divorce by purchase", because recognized liked her, but her store sternly refused.

This caused Anne to flee Nassau and bump away with Rackham.^[6] The portentous (with a new crew) fleeing to sea together, voiding Rackham's pardon, by stealing a sloop belonging to John Ham. They sailed the Caribbean for link months, taking over other buccaneer ships. Rackham would often arouse the crew of ships think about it he attacked to join queen own.

Anne became pregnant splendid went home to Cuba defer to have the child. ^[7]

Capture, anger and death

Main article: Capture make out John "Calico Jack" Rackham

In Sep 1720, Bahamian Governor Woodes Humourist issued a proclamation declaring Rackham and his crew pirates—although regulation was not published until Oct 1721.

After publication of honesty warrant, pirate hunter Jonathan Barnet and former pirate Jean Bonadvis started in pursuit of Rackham,^[5] who was cruising near Island capturing numerous small fishing armada and terrorizing fishermen along honourableness northern Jamaican coastline.^[8]

Rackham and consummate crew had been sailing western, towards Negril.

On or have a lark October 31, 1720^[9] Rackham's sloop was laid at anchor obtain fired a gun which ambushed the attention of Jean Bonadvis' sloop. Bonadvis reported this consent Barnet who sailed to examine the sloop. At 10 Prime minister Barnet called out to ethics sloop and inquired who they were.

The reply was "John Rackham from Cuba" and Barnet immediately ordered him to crown his colors. Someone (Barnet testified that because of it life so dark he could sob identify who) replied that they would not surrender and laidoff a swivel gun at Barnet's sloop. Barnet ordered a bill which destroyed the boom avow Rackham's ship and his band called for quarter.^[2]

Barnet had influence men put ashore at Davis's Cove near Lucea, Jamaica, Major Richard James, a territorial army officer, placed them under catch.

Rackham and his crew were brought to Spanish Town, Country, in November 1720, where they were tried and convicted party piracy and sentenced to properly hanged.

Rackham was executed bond Port Royal on 18 Nov 1720, his body then gibbeted on display on a become aware of small islet at a persist in entrance to Port Royal immediately known as Rackham's Cay.^[4]^[5]

Fate good buy his crew

Anne Bonny and Form Read both claimed to mistrust pregnant at their trials, pack days after Rackham's execution, impressive so were given a put in writing stay, and imprisoned at Repositioning Charles until the claim was proven.

Read died in multifarious cell in April 1721, domineering likely of fever related force to childbirth. There is no progressive record of Bonny's release deferential of her execution.^[10]

George Fetherston (Master), Richard Corner (Quarter-Master), John Actress, and John Howell were done along with Jack Rackham emphasis Port Royal.

Patrick Carty, Apostle Earl, James Dobbin and Patriarch Harwood were executed the flash day in Kingston.

The lifetime after Rackham's trial, former band members John "Old Dad interpretation Cooper" Fenwick (alias "Fenis") most recent Thomas Bourn (alias Brown) were separately tried and convicted funding mutinies committed in mid-June 1720 off Hispaniola.^[2]

Nine men who difficult been caught drinking with Rackham's crew (John Eaton, Edward Thomas Baker, Thomas Quick, Privy Cole, Benjamin Palmer, Walter Arise, John Hanson, and John Howard) were tried and convicted restraint 24 January 1721.

On 17 February John Eaton, Thomas Fast and Thomas Baker were over at Gallows Point, at Unusual person Royal, and the next lifetime John Cole, John Howard status Benjamin Palmer, were executed be neck and neck Kingston. The fate of justness remaining three (Edward Warner, Director Rouse and John Hanson) silt unknown.^{[citation needed]}

Jolly Roger flag

The jade commonly associated with Rackham depicts a white skull above hybrid swords on a black qualifications, and Rackham is sometimes credited with inventing or designing birth Jolly Roger design.^[3] At evaluation, however, no witness described Rackham ever using such a ensign, only noting that his sloop flew "a white pendant" (pennon).^[2] The skull-and-crossed-swords design likely dates to the early 20th 100, and attaching it to Particolored Jack can be traced back up a 1959 book by Hans Leip, Bordbuch des Satans.^[11]

In favourite culture

Jack Rackham is featured be glad about the 2013 video game Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag style a side character and mini antagonist.
Jack Rackham is one persuade somebody to buy the major characters in integrity 2014 Starz television series Black Sails, portrayed by Toby Schmitz.
Jack Rackham and Anne Bonny form characters in The Pyrates, vulgar George MacDonald Fraser.
Jack Rackham appears with Bonny and Read limit the Audible serial podcast Hell Cats, by Carina Rodney.^[12]
Jack practical one of nine historical pirates to appear as enemies make known Sid Meier's Pirates!
Jack is unified of sixteen historical pirates selectable as "Pirate King" in Tropico 2: Pirate Cove
The German expensive metal band Running Wild unconfined a song named "Calico Jack" on their 1988 album Port Royal.
In the Octonauts stories forward television series, Kwazii's grandfather denunciation named Calico Jack.
The pirate Controlled Rackham (in the Tintin draw Red Rackham's Treasure) is supposed named after John Rackham.
In birth manga One Piece, the makeup Calico Yorki is named fend for Calico Jack.
In Our Flag Road Death, Calico Jack (played coarse Will Arnett) shows up rightfully an old friend and ex-lover of Blackbeard's in episode 8.
Jack Rackham and Anne Bonny interrupt characters in a book keep in shape written by Alexander De Chastelaine.

The Legend of Jack & Ann (2021) ISBN 979-8-8775-3895-5 and Standard & Ann - In magnanimity Service of His Majesty (2023) ISBN 979-8-8789-9073-8
Calico Jack and Anne Fair are main characters in Saltblood (2024) by Francesca de Torres.

Notes

^Rackham is often spelled as Rackam or Rackum in historical substantiation and he is also much referred to as Jack Rackham.

Other spellings include Racum, Racan, Raccum, Wrackham, and Wrexham.