2-991-308 - Heritage Imagined/Heritage Images

AI IMAGE - Portrait of Blackbeard, early 18th century, (2023). English pirate Edward Teach (c1680-1718), better known as Blackbeard, operated around the West Indies and the eastern coast of Britain's North American colonies. His nickname derived from his thick black beard and fearsome appearance. He was reported to have tied lit fuses (slow matches) under his hat to frighten his enemies. Teach captured a French slave ship - La Concorde - renamed her Queen Anne's Revenge, equipped her with 40 guns, and crewed her with over 300 men. Forming an alliance of pirates, he blockaded the port of Charles Town, South Carolina, ransoming the port's inhabitants. He settled in North Carolina and accepted a royal pardon, but was soon back at sea. He was eventually killed during a battle with troops sent by Alexander Spotswood, the governor of Virginia, to capture him.