22. Famous Florida Pirates

After being discovered by Ponce de Leon on Easter Sunday in 1513, Florida became strategically important for Spain. Spanish Plate Fleets sailed the Trade Winds back to Europe.  Aware of the loaded ships along Florida’s coasts, many pirates preyed upon the Fleets. 

Sir Francis Drake attacked the Spanish on the order of Queen Elizabeth I.  In 1586 he attacked St Augustine, causing damage to the fort.

Robert Searle, aka John Davis in 1668, captured a Spanish ship and sailed to St Augustine for a raid that inspired the Spanish to build the Castillo de San Marcos.  

Andrew Ranson was a English privateer that led a failed attack on St Augustine. In 1684 the Spanish sentenced him to hang but he survived when the rope snapped. Ranson was sent to Castillo de San Marcos, where he was imprisoned for 17 years.  According to eye witnessess, it is said his ghost is still there. 

Black Caesar was a former slave and African pirate. In the early 1700s he raided ships off the Florida Keys and later served on Blackbeard’s crew. It is said he buried millions in treasure on Marco Island, Sanibel, Pine Island and Elliot Key. 

Henry Jennings served as leader of the pirate haven, the Republic of New Providence, (now Nassau, Bahamas).  In 1716 his fleet ambushed the Spanish 1715 Treasure Fleet Salvage Camp near Vero Beach.  

In 1718 Edward Teach, aka Blackbeard sailed a fleet of pirate ships, terrorizing and wreaking havoc up and down the east coast of Florida in the Queen Ann’s Revenge. 

Francisco Menendez was born in Africa and brought to South Carolina as a slave. In 1724, he escaped to Florida and helped lead the construction of Fort Mose, north of St Augustine.  40 former slaves settled outside the Fort to create the first free African American community in North America.  Then Menendez then took to the seas on a Spanish ship to raid English vessels.   

William Augustus Bowles organized Florida Native Americans who attempted to create their own state outside of the control of the United States.  With 2 Schooners and 400 men he pirated, amassing a small fortune said to be hidden in north Florida. 

John Rackham, aka Calico Jack was known for his flamboyance. In 1719 he wed female pirate Anne Bonny in New Providence. He then stole a British Sloop and engaged in piracy along the Florida coast.  He allowed women onboard to act as pirates to include female pirate Mary Read.  

Jose Gaspar, aka Gasparilla was a Spanish pirate who plundered across the Gulf of Mexico from a base in southwest Florida in the 18th to 19th century.  He is famous for Tampa’s Gasparilla Pirate Event.  

Jean LaFitte was a 19th century French American pirate and privateer and is most famous for his efforts in the Battle of New Orleans during the War of 1812.  Lafitte visited Seahorse Key around 1800 to bury treasure.  More stories of his buried treasure include Tavernier Creek, Dog Island and Fowlers Bluff. 

Luis Aury was a French privateer who operated in the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean. Aury laid claim to Amelia Island.  President Monroe intervened to oust Aury’s forces.  When Aury left Florida in 1817, it was the last serious pirate fleet to leave Florida. 

At this stop please locate the pictures of the many famous Florida pirates.  Pay particular attention to the recent picture snapped by a tourist at the Castillo de San Marcos showing the ghost of Andrew Ranson.  His ghost has been seen numerous times around the Castillo area, by both locals and tourists.