Charles Vane

It is thought that Charles Vane was born in England around 1680. Described as a precarious and capricious pirate captain, Vane’s fearless nature and impressive combat skills made him an very successful pirate, but his volatile relationship with his pirate crew would eventually lead to his demise.

Like the feared Blackbeard, Vane started his career as a privateer working on one of Lord Archibald Hamilton’s ships during the War of Spanish Succession. He was involved with Henry Jennings and Benjamin Hornigold during a famous attack on the salvage camp for the wrecked Spanish 1715 Treasure Fleet. Here he amassed a fortune valued at 87,000 pounds of gold and silver.

Vane decided to become an independent pirate in 1717, operating out of Nassau. His remarkable navigational skills, dexterity and fighting prowess propelled him to a level of unrivalled notoriety in the Caribbean.

When word reached the pirates that King George I of Great Britain had extended an offer of pardon to all pirates who wished to surrender, Vane led the pirates who opposed taking the pardon. He was captured in Nassau by British Naval forces yet, on the advice of former privateer, Benjamin Hornigold, Vane was set free as a sign of good faith. He was eventually captured, tried and hanged in November 1720 after continuing with a life of piracy.

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