The anecdote is attributed to the early-18th-century pirate Benjamin Hornigold and comes from later pirate lore, most famously recorded in A General History of the Pyrates (1724) by Charles Johnson. While its literal accuracy is debated, it reflects real conditions of Golden Age piracy: crews often raided ships not only for gold or silver but for everyday necessities like clothing, tools, medicine, and food. Sailors’ hats were practical gear protecting from sun and spray, and replacing them at s

The Golden Age of Piracy, spanning from the late 17th century to the early 18th century, marked a significant period of maritime crime and adventure in the Caribbean Sea, the American colonies, and beyond. Fueled by European colonial rivalries and the booming trade of valuable commodities such as sugar and tobacco, pirates like Blackbeard, Captain Kidd, and Bartholomew Roberts became infamous figures. During this era, many former privateers turned to piracy after the cessation of wars, seeking f

Pirates inspired fear as they ruled the seas for hundreds of years. From legendary John Ward, immortalised in fiction as Jack Sparrow, and English explorer Francis Drake, to the notorious Pirates of the Caribbean. Who were these enemies of the sea? Watch the new series Pirates: Behind the Legends from Sunday 18th August at 7pm, on National Geographic UK. | National Geographic UK