John Rackham
John Rackham | |
|---|---|
A woodcut of Rackham from Captain Charles Johnson's 1724 book A General History of the Pyrates | |
| Died | 18 November 1720 |
| Piratical career | |
| Type | Pirate |
| Years active | August – October 1720 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Base of operations | Caribbean |
| Commands | William (briefly) |
| Battles/wars | Capture of John Rackham |
John Rackham (hanged 18 November 1720), was a pirate captain operating in the Bahamas and Jamaica during the early 18th century.
Rackham was active in 1720, towards the end of the "Golden Age of Piracy". He is most remembered for having two female pirate crew members: Anne Bonny and Mary Read.
Rackham's life prior to piracy is unknown. The first biography of Rackhan comes from Captain Charles Johnson's 1724 book A General History of the Pyrates. According to Johnson, Rackham was a pirate from England who served under Charles Vane before becoming captain. Though Johnson's version of events has become generally accepted, there is little evidence to support them.
Rackham first appears in records around August 1720 after stealing merchant John Ham's sloop from Nassau harbor. After a short run, Rackham was captured by Jonathan Barnet, a former English privateer. Rackham was put on trial by Sir Nicholas Lawes, Governor of Jamaica, and hanged on the 18th of November that year in Port Royal, Jamaica.