Anne Bonny – Lady Pirate
Anne Bonny, a name that echoes through the annals of maritime history, conjures images of a fiery, unconventional woman who defied the societal norms of the 18th century. This infamous "lady pirate" is celebrated for her audacious spirit, her violent temper, and her participation in ferocious battles on the high seas. Operating primarily in the Caribbean, Anne Bonny sailed alongside notorious figures such as "Calico Jack" Rackham and her fellow female pirate, Mary Read, solidifying her place in the legends of piracy.
The early life of Anne Bonny is shrouded in some mystery, but it is generally believed that she was born around 1700 in Cork, Ireland. Born Anne McCormac, she was the illegitimate daughter of a servant woman named Mary Brennan and her employer, a lawyer named William McCormac. This unconventional beginning set the stage for a life marked by rebellion and defiance of societal expectations. When William McCormac’s wife exposed his adultery, his legal practice suffered, prompting him to relocate to London with Mary and Anne. In a peculiar twist, William began dressing Anne as a boy, referring to her as "Andy," perhaps in an attempt to conceal her true identity or to prepare her for a world dominated by men.
Seeking a fresh start and further opportunity, McCormac moved his family to the Carolinas, a burgeoning colony in the New World. To better assimilate into the community of Charles Town (present-day Charleston), he dropped the "Mc" from his Irish surname. Initially, McCormac tried to establish himself as an attorney, but his efforts proved unsuccessful. He then shrewdly transitioned into the more lucrative merchant business, where he amassed a considerable fortune. Tragedy struck when Anne’s mother died when Anne was only 12 years old.
As Anne blossomed into a teenager, she was described as a striking young woman with fiery red hair. She was considered a "good catch" by many, but she also possessed a formidable temper and a penchant for violence. One notorious tale recounts that she stabbed a servant girl with a table knife at the young age of 13, revealing a volatile nature that would later serve her well in her piratical pursuits. Despite attracting the attention of numerous suitors and being betrothed by her father to a local man, Anne resisted these traditional expectations. At the age of 16, she eloped with a poor sailor named James Bonny, who, according to legend, hoped to inherit her father’s wealth. However, William McCormac, enraged by his daughter’s defiance, disowned her, severing their ties and setting her on a path that would lead her to a life of piracy.
Between 1714 and 1718, Anne and James Bonny relocated to Nassau, on New Providence Island in the Bahamas. Nassau was notorious for being a haven for English pirates, so much so that it was often referred to as the "Republic of Pirates." The island’s lax enforcement of laws and its welcoming attitude towards those who lived outside the law made it an ideal sanctuary for pirates seeking refuge and a place to regroup. Many residents of Nassau had even received a King’s Pardon for their past crimes, further solidifying the island’s reputation as a pirate stronghold. When Governor Woodes Rogers arrived in the summer of 1718 with the intention of restoring order, James Bonny, in a move that would further alienate his wife, became a pirate informant for the governor in exchange for a pardon for his own past transgressions.
While in the Bahamas, Anne Bonny began frequenting local taverns, where she mingled with pirates and other disreputable characters. It was during this time that she met John "Calico Jack" Rackham, a former captain of a pirate ship. Disenchanted with her marriage to James Bonny, Anne became romantically involved with Rackham. Rackham offered to pay James Bonny for a divorce, a common practice at the time, but James refused, unwilling to relinquish his claim to Anne.
Undeterred, Anne was determined to forge her own destiny. In August 1720, she left with Calico Jack, assisting him in commandeering a sloop. Along with a new crew, they embarked on a career of piracy, preying on merchant vessels along the coast of Jamaica. Rackham’s decision to have Bonny accompany him was considered highly unusual, as women were generally regarded as bad luck aboard ships. However, Bonny did not conceal her gender from her shipmates. When pillaging, she would often disguise herself as a man and actively participate in armed conflict, demonstrating her courage and combat skills.
During their time at sea, Anne Bonny became pregnant and gave birth to a son in Cuba. The fate of the child remains a mystery, but Bonny quickly returned to her pirate life, leaving the infant behind.
Soon after, the pair were joined by another woman named Mary Read, who disguised herself as a man. The trio stole a ship called William, then at anchor in Nassau harbor. They then recruited a new crew and went pirating, enjoying success over the next several months, capturing several small vessels and keeping the cargo. When in combat, Anne took part right alongside the men, and the accounts of her exploits present her as competent, effective, and respected by her shipmates. And though she became renowned as a Caribbean pirate, she never commanded her own ship.
Anne Bonny‘s name eventually became so notorious that Governor Rogers included her in a "Wanted Pirates" circular published in the continent’s only newspaper, the Boston News-Letter.
On November 15, 1720, Rackham and his crew were attacked by Captain Jonathan Barnet, an ex-pirate who had become a commander in the British Navy. Barnet and his crew, acting under a commission from Nicholas Lawes, the Governor of Jamaica, launched a surprise attack on Rackham’s anchored ship, the William. Most of Rackham’s pirates offered little resistance, as they were heavily intoxicated from celebrating their recent capture of a Spanish commercial ship. However, Read and Bonny fought fiercely, briefly holding off Barnet’s troops. Ultimately, the women were overwhelmed, and Rackham and his crew were taken to Jamaica to stand trial. The presence of female pirates among the crew generated considerable excitement, turning the trial into a major spectacle.
Captain Jack and the male members of his crew were tried on November 16, 1720, and sentenced to hang for their crimes. Anne was granted permission to visit Rackham one last time before his execution. However, instead of offering condolences, she is said to have remarked, "Had you fought like a man, you need not have been hanged like a dog."
Anne and Mary were tried a week after Rackham and his men were executed. After being convicted, Read and Bonny both "pleaded their bellies," claiming to be pregnant and appealing for mercy. Under English common law, pregnant women were granted a temporary stay of execution until after they gave birth. Mary Read died in prison from fever in 1721, but the ultimate fate of Anne Bonny remains shrouded in mystery.
While there are no official records documenting Bonny’s release or execution, one popular theory suggests that her wealthy father intervened, purchasing her freedom from Jamaican Governor Lawes. According to this account, she returned to Charleston, where she gave birth to Rackham’s child.
The subsequent chapters of Anne Bonny‘s life are subject to various interpretations and legends. One account claims that she remarried in 1721 to a man named Joseph Burleigh, with whom she had eight children, and lived a respectable life until her death on April 25, 1782, in South Carolina. Other stories suggest that she settled down to a quiet family life on a small Caribbean island or lived out her days in the south of England, where she owned a tavern and entertained locals with tales of her daring exploits. Another version of the story claims that her father married her off to a Jamaican official, where she changed her name to Annabele and lived her days out, having eight children and dying at age 88. The truth, however, remains elusive.
Regardless of the details of her later life, Anne Bonny’s legacy as a fearless and unconventional female pirate endures, captivating the imagination and solidifying her place in the pantheon of maritime legends.