Blackbeard was a famous pirate of the eighteenth century. Born in England, he was said to have had 14 wives, and many names, including: Drummond, Thatch, Tash, and (officially) Edward Teach.
Infamous for his brutality, he encouraged his evil reputation in order to make his victims fear him.
Whenever he went into battle, Blackbeard stuck smouldering fuses under his hat so that he appeared in a thick cloud of black smoke.
He carried on him six pistols, each of which could only fire one shot at a time.
Blackbeard was greatly feared in Charleston, South Carolina. In 1718 he blockaded the harbour. He then ransomed one of the town’s council, and his four-year-old child, in exchange for a chest of medicines.
Blackbeard’s reign of terror only lasted two years. The British navy cornered him at Ocracoke inlet in 1718 where he was slain in a famous duel with Lieutenant Maynard. Blackbeard received 25 wounds, five of them gunshots. Blackbeard’s head was then hung from the bowsprit of the HMS Pearl ship.