Since childhood, we’ve all been fascinated by pirate ships. Their imposing looks and charisma have spread around the world through films, cartoons, art and even children’s toys. But which are the most famous pirate ships in history? Which seas and oceans have had the privilege of welcoming them?
Dear young pirate of modern times, welcome to our online store! Here, we’re talking adventure, scary men, carefree lives – in short, we’re talking pirate! 🏴☠️
Having compiled a list of the most famous pirates in history, it’s now time to highlight their beloved ships. We’ve carefully selected the 15 pirate ships that have left their mark on the seafaring world through their adventures, their size and the captains who have led terrifying careers. Are you ready to be amazed? Full speed ahead, matey! 🔥THE MOST POPULAR PRODUCTS🔥
15) The Flying Dutchman
The Flying Dutchman is one of the most remarkable fictional ships in the Pirates of the Caribbean series. She’s a combination of a galleon and a fluyt ship, a Dutch sailing vessel originally designed as a cargo ship. ⛴
The look of the Flying Dutchman is inspired by the Vasa, a 17th-century Swedish warship. This ghost ship also draws its inspiration from the legendary story of the ship of the same name, known in Dutch as “De Vliegende Hollander”. Although it’s considered 17th-century nautical folklore, many people claim to have actually seen it. Enough to make us dream!
14) Adventure Galley
Captured by Scottish sailor William Kidd, Adventure Galley was a 287-ton three-master launched on the Thames in 1695. She was part of a mission planned by New York colonel Robert Livingston to curb attacks on British ships in the East Indies. Kidd’s orders were to track down French pirates and enemy ships, and steal their treasure and possessions. 💰
To facilitate this mission, financed mainly by prominent English noblemen, the Adventure Galley was equipped with 34 cannons and 23 oars to maneuver the ship in calm winds. Originally a Scottish sailor, Kidd became a pirate! When he realized that finding French ships was becoming difficult, he settled for attacking his own allies’ ships for a living. On his return to London, he was convicted of piracy and immediately executed.
13) Cythera-Yacht
One of the rare cases of modern piracy involves the steel yacht Cythera, built by former Royal Navy officer Peter Fenton in Sydney, Australia. She was launched on March 17, 1962. Fenton, his wife, their journalist friend and two crew members set off on the Cythera’s maiden voyage on March 31, 1963. On April 10 of the same year, while all participants were making a short stopover on Lord Howe Island, the two crew members stole the yacht and set sail, evading radar. The Fentons and their journalist friend were stranded on the island… 🏝
After being missing for seven days, the Cythera was found on Norfolk Island and the thieves were captured. The yacht suffered severe damage and was looted of all its valuables. The thieves were convicted of piracy and sentenced to four years in prison.
12) Fancy
In May 1694, while serving aboard the privateer Charles II off the Spanish coast, Henry Avery plotted a mutiny that marked the beginning of his new, short-lived career as a pirate. After successfully taking control, Avery, a former Royal Navy midshipman, renamed the ship “Fancy” and set off with his new crew in search of fortune. 💸
The Fancy was equipped with around 50 cannons and had a crew of 150 pirates. Avery and his crew terrorized ships in the Indian Ocean until the end of 1695, before setting sail for the Bahamas. Governor Nicholas Trott offered them refuge in exchange for treasure including 1,000 pounds of ivory tusks, and Avery also offered Trott the Fancy. While several of his men were later captured and sentenced to death, Avery disappeared and died a free and wealthy man.
This magnificent ship was a powerful privateer and one of the fastest of its time. With this ship, Avery led two years of successful plundering throughout the Indian Ocean, capturing every ship within range and spreading his infamous reputation across the seas. His greatest victory was against the Great Lakes flagship, the 40-gun Gang-i-Sawai.
11) Whydah
The Whydah is thought to have contained the treasure of over 50 ships when she sank in a storm off the coast of Cape Cod on April 26, 1717. Professional treasure hunter Barry Clifford discovered the wreck in 1984 and has since recovered over 100,000 valuable pieces from the site. The Whydah was launched from London as a slave ship in 1715, and is named after the West African port of Ouidah, in present-day Benin. 🇧🇯
While sailing between Cuba and Hispaniola on her second voyage, the Whydah was overrun by pirates led by “Black Sam” Bellamy, who made her his flagship. Bellamy and his crew sailed north along the eastern coast of the American colonies when they were caught in a violent storm. The ship crashed into a sandbank, cracked and sank. Of the 146 crew members, only two survived.
It is estimated that the Whydah contained an enormous fortune, including over 400,000 gold and silver coins from some 50 ships looted by pirates. The wreck was discovered in 1984, but all its treasures have yet to be recovered…
10) HMS Raven
HMS Raven was an Albacore-class wooden propeller gunboat launched in 1856 and sold in 1875. Her sister ship, HMS Forward, was launched in 1855 and sold in 1869. She was captured by Mexican pirates and attacked by the USS Mohican at the Battle of Boca Teacapan, resulting in her destruction. ❌
9) CSS-McRae
CSS McRae was a 19th-century Confederate warship that was originally a Mexican rebel vessel called Marques de la Havane. She was captured by the USS Saratoga in 1860 as a pirate vessel, then purchased by the Confederate States Navy in New Orleans the following year. She was refitted and renamed CSS McRae.
During the Civil War, the ship provided protection for supply vessels entering and leaving the Mississippi River and Mobile Bay, and took part in a confrontation with Federal blockading vessels in October 1861. In the April 1861 naval battle near Forts Jackson and Saint Philip, the McRae fought bravely to the death, but the ship was badly damaged and her commander was killed in action. She returned to New Orleans under a flag of truce and was eventually abandoned and sunk on arrival.
8) Royal Fortune
In July 1720, Captain Roberts captured a French ship off the coast of Newfoundland. He outfitted the naval frigate with 26 cannons, renamed her “Good Fortune” and headed south to the Caribbean, where the ship was repaired and renamed “Royal Fortune”. Shortly afterwards, Roberts captured a French warship operated by the governor of Martinique, renamed it “Royal Fortune” and made it his new flagship. Roberts died and the last Royal Fortune was sunk on February 10, 1722 during an attack by the British warship HMS Swallow. ⚔️
Welsh pirate Bartholomew Roberts was one of the most famous pirates of his day. During his heyday as a pirate, he captured three ships: a French brigantine, a French warship and the frigate Onslow off the coast of Africa, which he renamed the “Fortune Royale”. This ship is a veritable myth in the world of navigation.
7) Ambrose-Light
The Ambrose Light was a single-gun brigantine ship operated by the Colombian rebels. The USS Alliance was sailing to Cartagena when it spotted the Ambrose Light and captured it, suspecting it was a rebel ship in 1885. However, the court ruled in favor of the Ambrose Light, declaring that the ship was acting lawfully in transporting Colombian troops during the country’s civil war. 🛡
She is remembered for her unique style, which has been widely imitated by shipbuilders. Fighting with a single cannon was remarkable at the time, giving its captain a reputation as a great warrior.
6) CSS Alabama
Although technically a warship, the Raider is often touted as the most destructive ship in history. According to Stephen Fox’s biography of the Alabama’s captain, the ship’s destructive reputation once led the New York Herald to refer to it as a “pirate on the high seas”. Built in 1862 by Henry Laird, whose family business also built 40 ships for the Royal Navy, the Alabama was designed for speed and surprise at sea. 🌊
The ship was 70 meters long and 12 meters wide, with a capacity of 350 tons of coal. The Alabama’s forward swivel cannon fired 45-kilogram shells. When the captain took control of another ship, he plundered and sank it in less than an hour, according to legend. At its destructive peak, the Alabama burned an average of one ship every three days… The Alabama was sunk by the Union ship Kearsarge off the Normandy coast on June 19, 1864, and was discovered by French sonar in 1984.
5) The-Ark-Royal
The Ark Royal was an English ship commanded by Sir Walter Raleigh in 1586. She was originally named “Ark Raleigh” as it was common practice to name the ship after her owner. However, she was later purchased by Queen Elizabeth I. According to legend, the Queen didn’t actually pay for it. Instead, a pirate offered to stop all legal proceedings against her… 🧐
The Ark Royal became the flagship of the English fleet during the Spanish Armada and led to its defeat. She served for over half a century and was feared on all the northern seas.
4) The Golden Hind (The Pelican)
The Golden Hind, commanded by Sir Francis Drake, was one of the most famous ships in the history of navigation. She made a historic and exciting voyage around the world and was the only one to return from this expedition. The Golden Hind was a ship armed with 18 cannons of various sizes and weighing around 100 tons. This flagship was originally known as the Pelican, but Drake renamed it “Golden Hind” during the voyage in 1577 after having already lost two ships. 🛳
This magnificent ship is famous for having circumnavigated the globe between 1577 and 1580, and its name was retained as a tribute to Sir Christopher Hatton, Drake’s godfather, whose symbol was a large golden hind.
3) The Black Pearl
The pirate ship Black Pearl is probably one of the most famous fictional pirate ships of all time. This ship is widely known and loved thanks to the Pirates of the Caribbean movies. It is easily recognized by its black hull and sails. It is renowned for its speed, thanks to its many sails. 🏴
The pirate ship Black Pearl was originally known as the Wicked Wench until her demise, when she was burned and sunk. She was resurrected from the depths of the sea by a man named Davy Jones, and then Jack Sparrow gave her a new name.
2) The Jolly Roger
The pirate ship Jolly Roger is another popular fictional pirate ship that played a role in the Peter Pan story. The famous Captain Hook and Mr. Smee called it home. Captain Hook used this ship as headquarters for his plan to eliminate young Peter Pan. Neverland and Skull Rock are favorite spots for pirates, where the ship often features in cartoons. 😈
Its name is not insignificant, as it’s named after the man who invented the pirate flag, Captain Jolly Roger. He’s a legend among sailors and in troubled waters the world over.
1) Queen Anne’s Revenge
English pirate Edward Teach, better known as Blackbeard, captured the Concorde, a French slave ship, in the West Indies in 1717 and made it his flagship. Slave ships, which were often fitted with a central bulkhead to prevent slave rebellions, were well suited to being used as pirate vessels due to their speed. Blackbeard added 26 cannons to the ship, which already had 14, making Queen Anne’s Revenge one of the most powerful vessels in American waters. 🇺🇸 🔥THE MOST POPULAR PRODUCTS🔥
In May 1718, Blackbeard blockaded Charleston harbor. After plundering five merchant ships, he beached the Queen Anne’s Revenge. Given Blackbeard’s familiarity with the area (he had sailed off the same coast the previous year), many historians believe he deliberately ran the Queen Anne’s Revenge aground in the hope of killing some of her crew and thus increasing his fortune. The ship was discovered in 1997 off the coast of Beaufort, North Carolina, and since then, marine archaeologists have been extracting treasures from its remains…
