# The Pirates of the Caribbean existed? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 12, 2006, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pirates-of-the-caribbean-existed/360417 "2006-06-12T14:03:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![iluvurmom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iluvurmom/32/7276_2.png) [@iluvurmom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iluvurmom)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2006, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pirates-of-the-caribbean-existed/360417/1 "2006-06-12T14:03:02Z")
Hey there any of you all heard anythign about that show on the History channel about the real pirates of the caribbbean? I recently caught sometyhing about it, and it kind of details the real “Black beard” and everything. I never knew they really existed, should be good for all of us Pirates fans. Has anyone heard about it?? ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2006, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pirates-of-the-caribbean-existed/360417/2 "2006-06-12T16:13:44Z")
You never knew Blackbeard really existed? The guy’s real name was Edward Teach (spellings varied), and he was probably born in Bristol around 1680. He started pirating off the coast of South Carolina in 1717. In 1718, he applied for and received a pardon, and settled down in the town of Bath, North Carolina. Later that year, he started pirating again from a base on Ocracoke Island, NC. The governor of Virginia got tired of the piracy, and outfitted ships which attacked and killed him. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2006, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pirates-of-the-caribbean-existed/360417/3 "2006-06-12T17:56:35Z")
Modern pirates are found off the coast of Somalia, & off Indonesia’s Straights of Malacca. And their numbers are _growing_. 2003 was a _huge_ growth year for piracy, & it has grown every year thereafter. Pirates have attacked cargo ships, cruise ships, fishing boats & container vessels. They use RPGs, missile launchers, & machine guns. They have strong ties to Somali Warlords & Al Qida. They are not heroic, nor romantic, in the least. They are the vermin of the sea. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2006, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pirates-of-the-caribbean-existed/360417/4 "2006-06-12T18:02:59Z")
Do they at least have eyepatches? Or parrots? ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2006, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pirates-of-the-caribbean-existed/360417/5 "2006-06-12T18:08:39Z")
> [@JThunder](#): > > Do they at least have eyepatches? Or parrots? No, they’re fresh outta those, all they have is violent, agonizing death. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Push\_You\_Down](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/push_you_down/32/9095_2.png) [@Push\_You\_Down](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Push_You_Down)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2006, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pirates-of-the-caribbean-existed/360417/6 "2006-06-12T18:20:54Z")
The US Navy and some other countries are starting to rally go after the African coast pirates. Pretty recently a pirate ship and her crew were captured after attempting to take on a Destroyer. Having had a life long love for pirates I have to say I’m shocked that their real life existence isn’t common knowledge. Similarly- Growing up in Montana I honestly had a bit of a fit when people would ask me if HBOs Deadwood was based on real people. See, I was taught about Wild Bill, Calamity Jane, Deadwood and the Black Hills in HISTORY class. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2006, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pirates-of-the-caribbean-existed/360417/7 "2006-06-12T18:30:01Z")
\ [http://www.starpulse.com/news/index.php/2006/06/12/consultant\_slams\_authenticity\_of\_pirates](http://www.starpulse.com/news/index.php/2006/06/12/consultant_slams_authenticity_of_pirates) ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2006, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pirates-of-the-caribbean-existed/360417/8 "2006-06-12T18:32:00Z")
And– [http://www.maltamedia.com/news/2005/gp/article\_10317.shtml](http://www.maltamedia.com/news/2005/gp/article_10317.shtml) ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2006, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pirates-of-the-caribbean-existed/360417/9 "2006-06-12T18:34:12Z")
From India– [http://www.thedailystar.net/2006/06/06/d60606070178.htm](http://www.thedailystar.net/2006/06/06/d60606070178.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2006, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pirates-of-the-caribbean-existed/360417/10 "2006-06-12T18:35:23Z")
And the latest outrage from Somalia– [http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7003841843](http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7003841843) ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2006, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pirates-of-the-caribbean-existed/360417/11 "2006-06-12T18:42:32Z")
The old Pirates of the Caribbean were real, too. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piracy\_in\_the\_Caribbean](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piracy_in_the_Caribbean) ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2006, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pirates-of-the-caribbean-existed/360417/12 "2006-06-12T20:10:43Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > The old Pirates of the Caribbean were real, too. But did they sing the song? ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2006, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pirates-of-the-caribbean-existed/360417/13 "2006-06-12T20:35:43Z")
> [@iluvurmom](#): > > Hey there any of you all heard anythign about that show on the History channel about the real pirates of the caribbbean? I recently caught sometyhing about it, and it kind of details the real “Black beard” and everything. I never knew they really existed, should be good for all of us Pirates fans. Has anyone heard about it?? Wait, could you clear one thing up? You didn’t know that there really was a pirate named Blackbeard? Or you really didn’t know that pirates _in general_ exsisted? Because if it’s the second one, no offense, but that’s some pretty staggering ignorance. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2006, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pirates-of-the-caribbean-existed/360417/14 "2006-06-12T21:03:55Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > some pretty staggering ignorance. And that, Sir, is what we’re here for. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2006, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pirates-of-the-caribbean-existed/360417/15 "2006-06-12T21:42:04Z")
> [@Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor](#): > > Modern pirates are found off the coast of Somalia, & off Indonesia’s Straights of Malacca. > > And their numbers are _growing_. > > 2003 was a _huge_ growth year for piracy, & it has grown every year thereafter. > > Pirates have attacked cargo ships, cruise ships, fishing boats & container vessels. > > They use RPGs, missile launchers, & machine guns. > > They have strong ties to Somali Warlords & Al Qida. > > They are not heroic, nor romantic, in the least. > > They are the vermin of the sea. [But you can fight them off with **sonic weapons!**](http://www.galactanet.com/comic/556.htm)🙂 ---
**Author:** ![sturmhauke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@sturmhauke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sturmhauke)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2006, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pirates-of-the-caribbean-existed/360417/16 "2006-06-12T22:20:18Z")
> [@Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor](#): > > Modern pirates are found off the coast of Somalia, & off Indonesia’s Straights of Malacca. > > … > > They are not heroic, nor romantic, in the least. > > They are the vermin of the sea. Yeah yeah yeah, historical pirates were a bunch of rotten bastards too. So what? Doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy a good pirate movie. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2006, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pirates-of-the-caribbean-existed/360417/17 "2006-06-12T22:38:27Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > [But you can fight them off with **sonic weapons!**](http://www.galactanet.com/comic/556.htm)🙂 There are better & cheaper [ALTERNATIVES](http://www.jdfmil.org/equipment/weapons/images/cg50b.jpg). Soon, merchant ships will **need** to be armed, to survive. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2006, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pirates-of-the-caribbean-existed/360417/18 "2006-06-12T22:44:09Z")
the real Blackbeard is quoted as having said that he would every so often kill one of his crew, just so they would remember who he was. I can’t help imagining that he said this on purpose, in the hope that his life story would be played out later with Gary Oldman or possibly Alan Rickman in the lead role. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2006, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pirates-of-the-caribbean-existed/360417/19 "2006-06-12T22:54:48Z")
Of course Blackbeard was real. His widow supposedly still haunts the isles of shoal to this day. ---
**Author:** ![mr.jp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/48db29/32.png) [@mr.jp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mr.jp)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2006, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pirates-of-the-caribbean-existed/360417/20 "2006-06-12T23:24:06Z")
Side question: How would the concept of pirates have started if there weren’t actually any pirates? Someone sat down and invented a whole profession, with its own mannerisms and gear. Are there any literary examples of something like this? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pirates-of-the-caribbean-existed/360417.md?page=2)