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Anne Bonny

Female pirate · Historical Figures · Born 1697

Anne Bonny is read about 1,324 times a day, in 54 languages.

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One of the vanishingly rare women documented among Golden Age pirates, and the details of her life are almost all smoke. What's certain: she sailed under John Rackham, fought when his crew was captured, and walked out of history while her crewmates hanged.

Historical FiguresHistorical FigureEarly Modern Era

Photos 7

Front cover of A General History of the Pyrates. Starting in the second edition, Anne Bonny's name, alongside Mary Read's, were put in notably larger font than other pirates like Blackbeard or Charles Vane.Front cover of A General History of the Pyrates. Starting in the second edition, Anne Bonny's name, alongside Mary Read's, were put in notably larger font than other pirates like Blackbeard or Charles Vane.1724 woodcut of Rackham from A General History of the Pyrates1724 woodcut of Rackham from A General History of the Pyrates1724 engraving of Mary Read from A General History of the Pyrates1724 engraving of Mary Read from A General History of the PyratesProclamation issued by governor Rogers 5 September 1720 that mentions Anne Bonny as a member of Rackham's crew. She is specifically called Ann Fulford alias Bonny.[22]Proclamation issued by governor Rogers 5 September 1720 that mentions Anne Bonny as a member of Rackham's crew. She is specifically called Ann Fulford alias Bonny.[22]Burial record of an Ann Bonny in Saint Catherine's Parish, 29 December 1733.Burial record of an Ann Bonny in Saint Catherine's Parish, 29 December 1733.Anne Bonny, Firing Upon the Crew, from the Pirates of the Spanish Main series (N19) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes MET DP835030Anne Bonny, Firing Upon the Crew, from the Pirates of the Spanish Main series (N19) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes MET DP835030

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Father: William Cormac

About this person

The standard biography comes from Captain Charles Johnson's 1724 General History of the Pyrates - illegitimate daughter of an Irish attorney, raised in Carolina, married a sailor - but there's little proof any of it happened that way. What's confirmed begins in the Bahamas, where she met the pirate John Rackham. In August 1720 she joined his crew alongside another woman, Mary Read, and together they stole the sloop William from Nassau harbor. For two months they raided merchant ships across the West Indies until former privateer Jonathan Barnet ran them down near Jamaica in October. The men were tried and hanged. Bonny and Read both claimed pregnancy, buying a stay of execution. Read died in jail by April 1721. Bonny likely walked free and lived until December 1733, vanishing as quietly as she'd arrived.

Category
Historical Figures
Type
Historical Figure
Status
living
Dates
Born 1697

Historical Figures born in the 1690s 6

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