From the blood-soaked decks of the Caribbean to the icy waters of the North Sea, pirates have haunted maritime history for centuries. Some sought justice, others plundered for power or glory. These 31 notorious figures—men and women—are ranked from ancient to modern, capturing the chaos, charisma, and cruelty of piracy through the ages.
31. Alwilda (5th Century AD)
A legendary Scandinavian princess-turned-pirate, Alwilda fled an arranged marriage and took to the seas with an all-female crew. She later partnered with a band of male pirates and led attacks across the Baltic Sea. Her exploits became the stuff of Norse legend. Eventually captured, she agreed to marry the very prince she once fled.
30. Klaus Störtebeker (c. 1360-1401)
A German pirate and leader of the “Victual Brothers,” he raided Hanseatic ships in the North and Baltic Seas. Captured by Hamburg authorities, he and his crew were executed. Legend says his decapitated body walked past eleven crewmates before collapsing—who were all then pardoned.
29. Rahmah ibn Jabir al-Jalahimah (c. 1760-1826)
This one-eyed Arab pirate terrorized the Persian Gulf with his ship “Al-Manowar.” Known for brutal tactics and anti-Ottoman sentiment, he amassed a fleet that battled British and regional forces. He died in a self-detonated explosion rather than face capture, killing many enemies aboard his ship.
28. Grace O’Malley (1530-1603)
Ireland’s Pirate Queen commanded fleets along the western coast, defying British rule and Queen Elizabeth I. Leading raids and defending her clan’s territory, she captained ships like the “Rockfleet.” She met the English queen in person, seeking clemency. O’Malley died peacefully but remains a symbol of defiance and female leadership.
27. Sir Francis Drake (1540-1596)
A sanctioned privateer for Queen Elizabeth I, Drake was a national hero to the English and a pirate to the Spanish. He circumnavigated the globe, plundered Spanish galleons, and helped defeat the Spanish Armada. Though technically a privateer, his raids made him one of history’s most successful sea raiders. Knighted upon return, he blurred the line between pirate and patriot.
26. François l’Olonnais (1630-1669)
Known as “The Flail of the Spanish,” this French pirate slaughtered Spanish crews and cannibalized prisoners. Aboard his ship La Louise, he terrorized the Caribbean. Eventually, the Kuna people of Panama captured him. In revenge for his brutal crimes, they tore him apart and reportedly ate him—ending his reign of horror.
25. Henry Morgan (1635-1688)
Though earlier chronologically, Morgan’s legacy bloomed later. A Welsh privateer turned pirate, he plundered Spanish colonies across the Caribbean. Famous for the sacking of Panama City, he later became Lieutenant Governor of Jamaica. He died wealthy and powerful, an outlaw who turned into establishment.
24. Thomas Tew (1650-1695)
Known for introducing the “pirate round,” Tew sailed the Indian Ocean attacking treasure ships. His flagship, the “Amity,” helped him amass great wealth. His death in battle against a Mughal convoy ended a brief but profitable career. He is considered a founding figure of the pirate republic in Madagascar.
23. William Kidd (1654-1701)
Captain Kidd began as a British privateer but was later accused of piracy. Aboard his infamous ship, the Adventure Galley, he raided vessels in the Indian Ocean. After capture, he was tried and hanged in London. His body was gibbeted over the Thames for years. Legends of his hidden treasure still entice fortune seekers.
22. Henry Every (1659-after 1696)
Also known as “Long Ben,” Every captured the Mughal treasure ship Ganj-i-Sawai, hauling in what could be today’s equivalent of $100 million. Operating in the Indian Ocean, he vanished without a trace—one of the few pirates to retire rich and free. His heist caused diplomatic chaos between England and India.
21. Blackbeard (Edward Teach) (c. 1680-1718)
With slow-burning fuses in his beard and a fearsome presence, Blackbeard terrorized the American coast aboard the Queen Anne’s Revenge. He blockaded Charleston and ruled through fear. Killed in a fierce battle off North Carolina, he sustained over twenty wounds before being decapitated. His head was hung from a ship’s bowsprit as a warning.
20. Charles Vane (1680-1721)
Charles Vane was a ruthless English pirate who roamed the Caribbean, rejecting royal pardons and defying authority. Known for savage raids and mutiny, he captained ships like the Ranger. Eventually captured in Jamaica, he was tried and hanged. Vane died unrepentant, steadfast in his loyalty to the pirate’s rebellious way of life.
19. Bartholomew Roberts (1682-1722)
Known as “Black Bart,” Bartholomew Roberts captured over 400 ships during the Golden Age of Piracy. Commanding the Royal Fortune, he dominated the Atlantic and enforced strict pirate codes. Killed in battle off Gabon’s coast, his dramatic fall signaled the beginning of the end for the era of Atlantic piracy.
18. Calico Jack (John Rackham) (1682-1720)
Famous more for his lovers—Anne Bonny and Mary Read—Calico Jack was a flashy pirate who designed the iconic Jolly Roger flag. He sailed through the Bahamas and the Caribbean but was captured and hanged. His legacy lives in fashion and pirate lore, though he was a relatively minor raider compared to others.
17. Charlotte de Berry (Fictional or Legendary, 17th Century)
While debated by historians, de Berry’s tale is compelling. She allegedly disguised herself as a man, avenged her husband’s death, and led a pirate crew. Her story ends with a shipwreck, starvation, and cannibalism. Her legend persists in popular culture, though evidence of her existence remains thin.
16. Mary Read (1685-1721)
Disguised as a man, Mary Read joined pirates Calico Jack and Anne Bonny, earning respect as a fierce fighter. She battled alongside male crewmates in daring raids. Captured and jailed, she died of fever before execution. Her life remains a powerful tale of defiance, disguise, and rebellion on the high seas.
15. William Lewis (Died 1687)
Source: Charles Ellms, “The Pirates’ Own Book” (1837) / Wikipedia
A mysterious and possibly mythical pirate, Edward “Ned” Lewis was said to have made a pact with the devil. Commanding the Blessing, he was feared for his daring and cruelty. Eventually killed by his own crew in a mutiny, his legend endures, shrouded in supernatural lore and ghostly pirate tales.
14. Stede Bonnet (1688-1718)
Known as the “Gentleman Pirate,” Stede Bonnet left a comfortable life to sail with Blackbeard. He was ill-prepared and often incompetent but still commanded the “Revenge” and led multiple raids. Captured in 1718, he was hanged in Charleston. His story is one of curious ambition and poor seafaring judgment.
13. Samuel Bellamy (1689-1717)
Nicknamed “Black Sam,” Bellamy was one of the wealthiest pirates ever, commanding the “Whydah Gally.” He died in a violent storm off Cape Cod, where the shipwreck was discovered centuries later with treasure onboard. A self-proclaimed Robin Hood of the seas, he remains one of piracy’s most romanticized figures.
12. Edward England (1690-1721)
Famous for his rare sense of mercy, England captained the Pearl and later the Fancy, raiding ships off Africa and the Indian coast. His refusal to kill captives led to a mutiny by his more bloodthirsty crew. Marooned on Mauritius, he lived out his final days in poverty—a rare pirate whose downfall came from compassion.
11. Edward Low (1690-1724)
An English pirate infamous for his brutality, Edward Low terrorized the Caribbean and American East Coast, torturing prisoners and sinking dozens of ships. His flagship was the Fancy. Eventually deserted by his crew, he was likely executed in Martinique. His extreme cruelty earned him a lasting reputation as one of history’s most savage pirates.
10. Anne Bonny (1697-unknown)
A fierce Irish pirate, Anne Bonny sailed with Calico Jack Rackham and Mary Read, plundering the Caribbean. Dressed as a man in battle, she was known for her temper and fearlessness. Captured in 1720, she was spared execution due to pregnancy. Her later fate is unknown, adding to her legend.
9. Ching Shih (1775-1844)
A Chinese prostitute turned pirate queen, Ching Shih commanded over 300 ships and 20,000 pirates. She dominated the South China Sea and even defeated the Chinese navy. Unlike most, this private accepted amnesty and retired wealthy. She died peacefully running a gambling house—a rare pirate who won the game.
8. Jean Lafitte (c. 1780-c. 1823)
A French pirate based in New Orleans, Jean Lafitte aided the U.S. during the War of 1812, notably at the Battle of New Orleans. He smuggled goods through the Gulf of Mexico aboard the Pride. His mysterious fate—vanishing or dying in battle—remains debated. Lafitte’s legacy lives on in Louisiana folklore and legend.
7. Cheung Po Tsai (1783-1822)
The adopted son and later husband of pirate queen Ching Shih, Cheung Po Tsai co-led the Red Flag Fleet. He controlled Chinese waters and negotiated amnesty for their pirate empire. After retirement, this pirate became a naval officer. He died in combat against pirates, symbolizing a rare transformation from outlaw to patriot.
6. Benito de Soto (1805-1830)
A Spanish pirate in the Atlantic, Benito de Soto captained the Defensor de Pedro and gained infamy for his brutality—especially during the plundering of the Morning Star. His attacks often left no survivors. Eventually captured and executed in Gibraltar, de Soto’s short reign was marked by terror, bloodshed, and a legacy of ruthless piracy.
5. Sadie Farrell (Early 19th Century)
Known as “Sadie the Goat,” she was a fierce New York river pirate who headbutted victims and led a gang that hijacked a sloop. They raided Hudson River estates and took hostages for ransom. Eventually crowned queen of the waterfront, Sadie reportedly died of old age—a rare ending for a life of piracy.
4. Pedro Gilbert (c. 1800-1835)
Gilbert, a Spanish pirate and former privateer, raided ships along Florida’s coast. His most notorious act involved setting a captured vessel on fire with its crew aboard—though they escaped. Captured by the U.S. Navy, he was tried and hanged in Boston. His legacy endures at Gilbert’s Bar House of Refuge.
3. Albert W. Hicks (c. 1820-1860)
Dubbed the “Last Pirate of New York,” Hicks murdered three crewmates aboard the ship A.E. Johnson and escaped with stolen goods. His sensational trial gripped 19th-century America. Ultimately hanged, he became one of the last pirates executed in the U.S. Legend claims his restless ghost still haunts the site of his execution.
2. Paul Watson (1950- )
A modern anti-whaling activist, Watson founded the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. While not a pirate in the traditional sense, he was labeled an eco-pirate for ramming whaling ships and disrupting illegal fishing. His boat, the “Steve Irwin,” patrolled oceans worldwide. He remains a polarizing figure in environmental and maritime law circles.
1. Mohamed Garfanji (Active 2010s)
A key pirate leader in Somalia, Garfanji coordinated hijackings of vessels like the “MV Iceberg 1,” whose crew suffered nearly three years in captivity. Based in Harardhere, he was eventually arrested. Garfanji came to embody the modern face of piracy—driven by desperation, fueled by chaos, and sustained by the pursuit of profit.