Jean-François Duclerc

Jean-François Duclerc was a French pirate who operated in the waters around Guanabara Bay in southeastern Brazil. He was one of the more successful pirates in South America during the period often referred to as the "golden age" of piracy, which spanned roughly from 1650 to 1750. This era saw legendary figures like Henry Morgan and Blackbeard, and pirates often came from various European maritime countries. Piracy, defined as robbery or violent action for private ends outside the jurisdiction of any state, has a long history, dating back to ancient times and continuing through various periods, including the Middle Ages and after European wars.1