Every Real Pirate In Black Sails & What Happened To Them

Summary

• Black Sails
  is a detailed example of historical fiction, featuring real historical pirates in its main cast.
• The fates of historical pirates such as Anne Bonny, “Calico Jack” Rackham, and Charles Vane are depicted with similarities to history.
• Black Sails
  hints at the further adventures of real historical pirate Mary Read with Bonny and Rackham.

The TV show Black Sails is a prequel to Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic novel Treasure Island, following the adventures of Captain Flint (Toby Stephens) and his crew of pirates. While the show is led by fictional characters such as Flint, the main Black Sails characters include real historical pirates like the infamous Long John Silver (Luke Arnold) and the mysterious Billy Bones (Tom Hopper). The historical pirates who appear in Black Sails operated in the Caribbean in the early 18th century, better known as the Golden Age of Piracy.

Most of the Black Sails pirates were hunted by real historical figures, including Woodes Rogers (Luke Roberts), who appears as an antagonist on the show. This demonstrates how the series is a detailed example of historical fiction. While the ending of Black Sails fictionalizes the outcome for many real pirates, their true fate is just as compelling as what’s shown in the series.

All information on historical figures comes from Smithsonian Magazine and the World History Encyclopedia unless otherwise stated.

9 Anne Bonny (Clara Paget)

The real Anne Bonny’s fate is a mystery.

Anne Bonny is a prominent pirate throughout the entirety of Black Sails. The real Anne Bonny was born in Ireland and moved to Nassau after marrying a pirate named James Bonny. After James became an informant for the governor, Anne Bonny left him for “Calico Jack” Rackham. Bonny joined Rackham’s crew on the Revenge, which included another historical pirate, Mary Read. Most historians agree that Bonny and Read developed a romance aboard the ship. Black Sails depicts Bonny and Rackham as fiercely dedicated to each other, despite their tumultuous relationship, omitting this Sapphic romance entirely.

The real Anne Bonny disappeared from history in 1720 after a King’s Ship captured Calico Jack and the crew of the Revenge. When Rackham’s crew was captured, Bonny and Read delayed their executions by saying they were pregnant. There is no record of Bonny’s death or release after that. Black Sails ends with Anne Bonny and Jack Rackham returning to piracy, while Max becomes the unofficial leader of Nassau. A new member of Bonny and Rackham’s crew who is implied to be Mary Read makes a brief appearance in the series finale.

8 John “Calico Jack” Rackham (Toby Schmitz)

Calico Jack was Charles Vane’s quartermaster.

At the beginning of Black Sails, John Rackham is the quartermaster of Charles Vane’s (Zach McGowan) crew. The real Rackham was likewise Vane’s quartermaster. Rackham eventually peacefully deposed Vane as captain, allowing him and his supporters to take another ship. In Black Sails, Bonny and Rackham also leave Vane’s crew to pursue other profitable opportunities.

The historical Rackham sailed with Anne Bonny and Mary Read for some time after parting ways with Vane. Rackham’s ship was siezed in Port Royal in 1720. When his crew was attacked, most of the men were drunk. Bonny and Read were the only ones who put up a fight. Bonny’s famous last words to Rackham were, “If you had fought like a man, you wouldn’t be hanged like a dog” (via World History Encyclopedia). After his capture, Rackham was charged with four counts of piracy and hanged on November 18, 1720. His body was placed in a cage at Deadman’s Cay.

7 Charles Vane (Zach McGowan)

Charles Vane’s Black Sails death is similar to history.

Black Sails‘s Charles Vane is depicted as a rival captain who ideologically comes into conflict with the show’s protagonist Captain Flint. He and Flint eventually come to respect one another. Vane is captured, tried, and killed in Black Sails season 3. The real Charles Vane was a ruthless and cruel pirate who notoriously attacked the governor’s ship instead of accepting a pardon. He’s nothing like the moral pirate scene in Black Sails, causing his crew to stage a mutiny in November 1718. The real Vane was tried and hanged in Port Royal in 1721.

6 Edward “Blackbeard” Teach (Ray Stevenson)

Blackbeard’s Black Sails death also alludes to history.

In season 3, Blackbeard returns to Nassau after the Guthries are deposed, where he meets his former protégé Vane. As he does in Black Sails, the real Blackbeard ran across other famous pirates, including Vane and Rackham. Most of what’s known about the real Blackbeard’s life and his relationships was greatly embellished by authors, so it’s difficult to know what of his history is true. Nobody knows his birthdate or location. There’s also very little information about his life prior to piracy.

Additionally, his reputation as a cruel captain might be entirely fictional as there is zero evidence that he killed people prior to the final battle at Ocracoke. What is known is that when Blackbeard was killed in battle, his head was hung from the bowsprit of the enemy ship, and his body was tossed overboard. According to legend, his corpse swam around the ship several times before sinking out of sight. Black Sails gives Blackbeard a similar death to history: He is keelhauled and beheaded by Rogers in season 4.

5 Israel Hands (David Wilmot)

Black Sails develops Israel Hands’ story after a fallout with Blackbeard.

The real Israel Hands was the long-time first mate of Blackbeard, which remains true on the show. However, Black Sails’ Hands and Blackbeard fell out when Blackbeard made Vane his apparent successor. Hands also appears as Long John Silver’s first mate in the book Treasure Island. According to AGeneral History of the Pyrates by Captain Charles Johnson, Hands was not present when Blackbeard was killed, because he was recovering from Blackbeard accidentally shooting him in the leg. Hands was subsequently captured and received a pardon in exchange for information on Blackbeard’s business partners. His fate after this is unknown.

4 Benjamin Hornigold (Patrick Lyster)

Black Sails does not show Captain Hornigold working with Blackbeard.

Black Sails accurately depicts Benjamin Hornigold as a pirate captain collaborating with the other famous pirates of the 18th century. However, the fictional Hornigold betrays the others in exchange for a pardon and works with Rogers. He is subsequently killed by Flint. In reality, Blackbeard was Hornigold’s second-in-command before becoming the captain of his own ship, the Queen Anne’s Revenge. The real Hornigold did accept a pardon and became a pirate hunter, working closely with the real Rogers. Hornigold died in a shipwreck in 1719.

3 Ned Low (Tadhg Murphy)

Ned Low’s Black Sails death is entirely fictional.

Edward “Ned” Low has a small but vital role in Black Sails season 2 when he captures Abigail Ashe (Meganne Young) while she is traveling to Charles Town. Abigail becomes an important hostage as Flint attempts to negotiate with her father Peter Ashe (Nick Boraine). Vane kills Low to secure Abigail. Vane stakes Low’s head on Nassau’s beach along with a sign that says “I angered Charles Vane.” The real “Ned” Low was a pirate captain known for his cruelty and torturing his captives. Low became a pirate after his wife’s premature death. While he started out cruel he only became worse with time. There are conflicting reports of Low’s ultimate fate: He may have been killed or set adrift by his crew after a mutiny.

2 Mary/Mark Read (Cara Roberts)

Mary Read’s appearance hints at more adventures for Bonny and Rackham.

Mary Read appears in the finale episode of Black Sails, presumably becoming a trusted partner of Bonny and Rackham in the future. Read introduces herself as “Mark Read” to Bonny and Rackham. Of all the real pirates depicted Black Sails, Mary Read had the longest career as a pirate. According to Britannica, Read started working as a sailor at a young age, becoming a buccaneer after her ship was seized by pirates.

Her pirate ship sailed from the West Indies islands to Nassau in 1717. She soon joined the ship of Calico Jack. The real Mary Read had a romantic relationship with Bonny. She and Bonny both claimed to be pregnant when the crew was captured, but Read died in prison, most likely of a fever. If Black Sails season 5 had happened, it could have depicted the exploits of Read, Bonny, and Rackham.

1 Mr. Scott (Hakeem Kae-Kazim)

Mr. Scott is not a historical pirate but was inspired by history.

In Black Sails, Mr. Scott is a former slave who is Eleanor Guthrie’s (Hannah New) advisor at the beginning of the series, but becomes Benjamin Hornigold’s (Patrick Lyster) quartermaster. While Scott is an original character, he is representative of the escaped slaves played during the Golden Age of Piracy. According to Britannica, “It is estimated that up to one-third of the 10,000 pirates during the golden age of piracy were former slaves.”

In season 3, it is revealed that Scott has a wife known only on the show as the “Maroon Queen” (Moshidi Motshegwa) and a daughter named Madi (Zethu Dlomo). His wife is the leader of a community of former slaves on Maroon Island. She may be inspired by the historical figure known as “Queen Nanny,” the leader of a community in the mountains of Jamaica. Scott is shot by English soldiers while helping others escape to Maroon Island and later dies of infection in Black Sails season 3.

Source: Smithsonian Magazine, World History Encyclopedia, Smithsonian Magazine,AGeneral History of the Pyrates by Captain Charles Johnson, Britannica and Britannica