Blackbeard

Despite the fact that nothing is known about his life, Blackbeard is arguably the most famous pirate in history. The majority of the information we have about him and other pirates of his age comes from "A General History of the Pyrates", a 1724 book written by Capt. Charles Johnson.

According to the book, Blackbeard was born Edward Thatch in Bristol, England, and participated in the War of the Spanish Succession as a privateer (1701 to 1714). He started engaging in piracy in 1716, using his ship, the "Queen Anne's Revenge," near the coastlines of South Carolina and Virginia. According to historian and writer Colin Woodard, Blackbeard took use of his feared reputation in these areas. Woodard previously told All About History magazine, "He did his best to develop a terrifying image and reputation, which encouraged his opponents to submit without a struggle."

According to the 1724 tale, Thatch's enormous beard "reached up to his eyes," and while engaged in combat, he carried "three brace of pistols, hanging in holsters like Bandoliers; and put blazing matches under his cap" in order to cover himself in a foreboding shroud of smoke. According to the National Park Service, Blackbeard was slain in November 1718 after his ship was ambushed by Royal Navy officers close to Ocracoke Island in North Carolina.