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Calico Jack was an English pirate captain who operated in the Caribbean in the early 18th century. He was known for his calico clothing, his female crew members Anne Bonny and Mary Read, and his capture and execution in 1720.
- Charles Vane’s Quartermaster
- Rackham, Bonny & Read
- Capture
- Trial & Hanging
- Legacy
From at least 1718, Rackham sailed as quartermaster and the second-in-command to the notorious English pirate Charles Vane, operating in the Caribbean and off the east coast of North America. Before this time, nothing is known of Rackham's life. In August 1718, Vane refused a royal pardon in the Bahamas and fired his cannons at the ship of the gove...
Meanwhile, Rackham continued with his own acts of piracy. Rackham’s nickname was 'Calico Jack' because of his preference for plain 'calico' cotton (from Calcutta, India) clothes rather than the silks and velvet clothing other pirate captains preferred. Rackham’s Jolly Roger flag, used to warn victims to surrender without resistance, was unusual wit...
In late October or early November 1720, while anchored off the western tip of Jamaica, Rackham’s ship suffered a surprise attack from the Tyger, a 90-ton snow sent by the new governor of the island, Sir Nicholas Lawes, and commanded by Jonathan Barnet. The pirates, numbering 18, cut their anchor cable and made a hasty departure, but they were overh...
Rackham pleaded not guilty to the charge of piracy despite the overwhelming evidence which included testimony from victims and eyewitnesses. The charges were specific to four episodes of piracy: 1. That they "did practically, feloniously, and in an hostile manner, attack, engage and take, seven certain fishing boats" and that they assaulted the fis...
John Rackham was the subject of a biography alongside many other pirates in the celebrated work, the General History of the Robberies and Murders of the Most Notorious Pyrates, compiled in the 1720s. The book was credited to a Captain Charles Johnson on its title page, but this is perhaps a pseudonym of Defoe’s (although scholars are still debating...
- Mark Cartwright
May 15, 2019 · Learn about the life and adventures of John Rackham, also known as Calico Jack, who sailed the Caribbean with Anne Bonny and Mary Read. Find out how he became a pirate, captured a sloop, and was hanged in 1720.
Learn about the life and adventures of John 'Calico Jack' Rackham, one of the most notorious pirates of the Golden Age of Piracy. Discover how he rose to power, sailed with Mary Read and Anne Bonny, and met his fate in a bloody battle.
Learn about the life and adventures of John "Calico Jack" Rackham, one of the most unique and memorable pirates of the Caribbean. Discover how he became a captain, fought with Charles Vane, avoided Spanish warships, and had Anne Bonny as his lover.
Aug 23, 2021 · Learn about the life and adventures of Jack Rackham, aka Calico Jack, one of the most elegant and famous pirates of the Golden Age. Discover how he became a captain, how he wore his colorful clothes, and how he met his end in the Bahamas.
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Mar 2, 2024 · Learn about the life and exploits of John "Calico Jack" Rackham, a flamboyant pirate who rose to fame in the Caribbean. Discover how he married Anne Bonny and Mary Read, two fierce female pirates who fought by his side until his capture and execution.
