In the summer of 1718 two large wooden ships sank in the sandy shoals of Beaufort Inlet, formerly Topsail Inlet, about one mile off the coast. These two ships, known then as the Adventure and Queen Anne's Revenge, were pirate ships commanded by the notorious Captain Thache, also known as
The only authenticated pirate wreck in the world, the Whydah boasts a storied history. As Kristen Young wrote for the Cape Cod Times in 2018, the ship sank off the coast of Wellfleet during an April 26, 1717, nor'easter, killing all but two of the 146 people on board.
The most infamous and largest pirate ship in his collection of Royal Fortunes was a former French vessel that Black Bart chose as his flagship. While all others he chose to scuttle, this Royal Fortune became the darling of the fleet. Aboard the Royal Fortune, Black Bart acquired wealth and success.
One major find in the fall of 1985 was the ship's bell, inscribed with the words "THE WHYDAH GALLY 1716". With that, Whydah Gally became the first ever pirate shipwreck with its identity having been established and authenticated beyond doubt.
The Queen Anne's Revenge went aground in 1718 just offshore from Beaufort. A few months after the grounding, Blackbeard was killed in a battle with British naval forces in the Pamlico Sound. The wreck was found in 1996 by Intersal Inc., private salvagers based in Palm Bay, Florida.
Though many have tried, the lost treasure of Blackbeard remains unfound to this day. Legend has it that while his death occurred in North Carolina, his spirit has returned to protect that which he holds most dear.
The famed pirate died in a sea battle with a Virginia-based squadron in 1718. A British commander had Blackbeard's head cut off and displayed on a scaffold. The skull is rumored to have reappeared in various locations as a drinking vessel. For the meantime, this skull remains in storage at the Peabody Essex Museum.
1. The Wilhelm Gustloff (1945): The deadliest shipwreck in history. On January 30, 1945, some 9,000 people perished aboard this German ocean liner after it was torpedoed by a Soviet submarine and sank in the frigid waters of the Baltic Sea.
It was a monumental find, and more than 30 years after its discovery, the Whydah Gally (also known simply as “Whydah“) remains the only fully authenticated and positively identified pirate shipwreck ever recovered.
Sloops were the most common choice during Golden Age of Pirates during the 16th and 17th century for sailing around the Caribbean and crossing the Atlantic. These were commonly built in Caribbean and were easily adapted for pirate antics.
Queen Anne's Revenge was not only among the most famous ships in history, but it was also one of the most feared. It was formerly known as La Concorde — a huge French ship that carried and transported slaves — until it was captured and refitted by the famous Edward Teach, more commonly known as Blackbeard.
Captain Jack Sparrow is a fictional character and the main protagonist of the Pirates of the Caribbean film series. The character was created by screenwriters Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio and is portrayed by Johnny Depp.
1 – Blackbeard
Easily the most famous buccaneer on the list and possibly the most terrifying pirate of all time, Blackbeard had a reputation of horrific magnitude in his day. In fact, it wasn't just the size of his reputation that was scary, but the content too!
The Black Pearl (formerly known as the Wicked Wench) is a fictional ship in the Pirates of the Caribbean film series. In the screenplay, the ship is easily recognized by her distinctive black hull and sails.
The largest monetary treasure haul found was on the wreck code named Black Swan, discovered by Odyssey Marine Exploration in 2007 off of Gibraltar. The salvage team reportedly found 17 tons of coins valued at $500 million; an amount that is both staggering and said to be “unprecedented” in the treasure hunting world.
The highest-earning pirate ever was Samuel “Black Sam” Bellamy, an Englishman who made his bones patrolling the New England coast in the 18th century. By our calculations, “Black Sam” plundered an estimated $120 million over the course of his career.
His name was Albert Hicks, and he's been called "The Last Pirate of New York," a bridge between Blackbeard and Al Capone, when the worst of the worst transitioned from raiding ships to joining mobs.
Evidence. According to HIMA, the Cycladic pottery evidence is dated to around 2200 BC, which makes the Dokos wreck the oldest known underwater shipwreck yet discovered. The clay pots appear to be merchandise from an ancient Argolida manufacturing facility.
The Extremely Ancient Dokos Shipwreck
Among them, the Dokos wreck is thought to be the oldest shipwreck found to date. It dates before c. 2200 BCE, judging by the pottery cargo it carried. It was discovered by Peter in 1975 at a depth of fifteen to thirty meters near the Greek island of Dokos.
The dubious honor of the worst sinking of all time goes to the Wilhelm Gustloff, torpedoed by a Russian submarine on January 30th, 1945. She was crammed to the gunwales with German refugees, fleeing the advancing Russian Army in the waning months of World War Two.
A rough estimate by the United Nations shows at least 3 million shipwrecks are lying across ocean floors.
Day 3: Ocracoke, Site of Blackbeard's Last Stand
Blackbeard was killed in the battle that ensued on Nov. 22, 1718. His headless body is believed to be buried in a mass grave somewhere on the island. Today, take a break from your pirate trail to enjoy Ocracoke's charming village and pristine beaches.
The land where the treasure is believed to be buried is known as Lunging Island. Blackbeard is believed to have frequented the island. He and his crew would go in for drinks at a small tavern on the island. That's when Blackbeard is believed to have buried his treasure.
As the defenseless Blackbeard faltered, Barbossa stabbed his enemy clean through the torso, declaring his victory "for the Pearl." Barbossa then picked up the fallen Sword of Triton and claimed it along with his ship, the Queen Anne's Revenge and surviving crew as wergild for his missing leg.