Celebrations Along the N.C. Coast Mark 300 Years Since Blackbeard’s Death
It’s been 300 hundred years since Blackbeard, North Carolina’s most famous pirate, was killed in a battle in Ocracoke Inlet.
Little is known about Blackbeard’s early life—even his real name, commonly thought to be Edward Teach, or possibly Thatch.
Blackbeard had been captain of his own ship, Queen Anne’s Revenge, for only about a year when he met his demise at the hands of Royal Navy Lieutenant Robert Maynard, sent by Virginia’s colonial governor Alexander Spotswood to put an end to the pirate’s treachery.
From the depths …
The remains of the Queen Anne’s Revenge were discovered in 1996 near the Beaufort Inlet by a private research firm. Since that time, cannons, anchors, a bronze bell dated 1705, and other artifacts have been raised from the site.
A traveling exhibit has been showcasing some of these artifacts. There are two stops remaining, at East Carolina University (October 3-November 29, 2018) and the N.C. Maritime Museum in Southport (December 3, 2018-January 31, 2019). To learn more about the ship and its preservation, visit www.qaronline.org.
Step back in time
Take a step back in time and relive the days of pirating on the North Carolina coast with these commemorative events:
- The Greater Bath Foundation and the Town of Bath will hold a 300th Anniversary Celebration October 19-20, 2018 – including a reunion of pirates’ descendants, a sea battle, and a siege of the town off Bonner’s Point.
- On Ocracoke Island, Blackbeard’s Pirate Jamboree will bring the 18th century back to life October 25-27, 2018 – with a historically accurate pirate encampment and a reenactment of Blackbeard’s last battle.
Blackbeard – Motley Tones
Blackbeard – Shadow PlayersPhotography by Natasha Jackson.
About Blackbeard
1680 – Although his origins are murky, Edward Teach (or Thatch) was born, most likely in Bristol, England.
Fall 1717 – Teach is an apprentice under pirate captain Benjamin Hornigold, who captures the French slave ship La Concorde late in 1717 and gives Teach command of the ship. Teach changes its name to Queen Anne’s Revenge.
May 1718 – Known now as Blackbeard—and with a reputation for ruthlessness—the captain and his ships block the port of Charleston, S.C., for a week in May. Seizing ships attempting to run the blockade and taking hostages, Blackbeard demands food, medicine, and other supplies as ransom.
June 1718 – Blackbeard attempts to enter Old Topsail Inlet (now Beaufort Inlet), when his Queen Anne’s Revenge and the sloop Adventure run aground on a sandbar and are abandoned.
November 1718 – After enduring widespread piracy after Blackbeard bribed colonial governor Charles Eden to overlook his illegal activities, North Carolinians appealed to Alexander Spotswood, colonial governor of Virginia, for help. Spotswood plotted an ambush, with Royal Navy Lieutenant Robert Maynard as commanding officer. On November 22, Maynard found Blackbeard in Ocracoke Inlet. The pirate fired on Maynard’s ships, Ranger and Jane; Maynard ordered the crew of the Jane to go below deck so the ship would appear abandoned. Blackbeard boarded the vessel and sustained 25 stab wounds and five gunshots before dying. His head was cut off and hung from the Ranger’s bowsprit, and his body was tossed overboard.