privateer: Quick Facts

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Photos and Videos

Infographic titled Pirates Throughout History showing a world map with highlighted regions of major pirate activity and a timeline of significant piracy events from ancient times to the 2010s, including notable pirates and key historical moments.

Sir Francis Drake: Admiral, pirate, and explorer

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Topics

Pirates, Privateers, Corsairs, Buccaneers: What’s the Difference?letter of marque piracy naval warfare buccaneer warship Today in History—August 23: The End of the Battle of Mobile Bay submarine amphibious warfare sea power visit and search galley warfare Continuous voyage

Key People

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William Kidd

English pirate

Laffite, Jean

Jean Laffite

American pirate

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Christopher Newport

British sea captain

A French hero

Jean Bart

French military officer

Selkirk, Alexander

Alexander Selkirk

Scottish sailor

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Jean Ango

French shipowner

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Woodes Rogers

English privateer

Old medieval wooden pirate military war ship with a cannon on the deck pointed out and aiming

Spot the Difference: Pirates, Privateers, Corsairs, and Buccaneers