23 maio 1701 ano - The Execution of William Kidd

Descrição:

Captain William Kiss is the best example of the changing attitudes of privateers to pirates. He is a Scottish privateer, marrying and acquiring land in NYC around 1690. He spends a lot of time with the city's elite, becoming a member of NYC polite society and founding the trinity church, lending parts of his ships to build it. He is hired by the elite to sail into India and oversea a trade, given a custom ship called the Adventure Galley. On his way he arrives off the coast of Newfoundland and takes a French prize, and becomes a roundsman after sailing down to Africa. He captures the Quedah Merchant, around 500 tons belonging to the emperor. There are many Armenian people on board, and England was currently trying to get on the good side of Armenia, but Kidd takes the vessel and arrives in NYC on April 16, 1699. They accuse him of piracy, so he buries the treasure and sails into Boston to defend himself. He tries to convince the English governor that he is innocent, trying to buy himself a pardon and accusing the crew of turning him. He was then arrested and sent to England for trial. He claimed that the ship had French passes, meaning that since England was at war with France, the ship could have been taken as a prize. The passes had been confiscated and he could therefore not use them for his defence. He is hanged at the execution dock in Wapping on May 23, 1701 and gibbetted. His legend lives on through the Ballad of Captain Kidd, written after his death in 1701, as well as some of his treasure from the ship being found after his death.

Adicionado na linha do tempo:

Data: