Blackbeard, or, the Pirate of the Roanoke: A Tale of the Atlantic

Blackbeard, or, the Pirate of the Roanoke: A Tale of the Atlantic by Benjamin Barker, published in 1847. This Tale is inspired by the actions of the notorious pirate that sail the seas Blackbeard. Parallels have also been drawn between Johnson's Blackbeard and the character of Captain Jack Sparrow in the 2003 adventure film, Pirates of the Caribbean. Edward Teach (1680-1718), better known as Blackbeard, was a notorious English pirate who operated around the West Indies and the eastern coast of the American colonies. Although little is known about his early life, he was likely born in Bristol, England. Hornigold placed him in command of a sloop he had captured, and the two engaged in numerous acts of piracy. Their numbers were boosted by the addition to their fleet of two more ships, one of which was commanded by Stede Bonnet, but toward the end of 1717 Hornigold retired from piracy, taking two vessels with him.