Captain Kidd Research Paper

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The Disreputable Life of Captain Kidd
Among all the infamous and notorious pirates to sail the Atlantic and West Indies Sea, there was one pirate who made history of having the undecided claim of not being a pirate. In the beginning of his career as a privateer, William Kidd and his crew sailed to various locations and seas under the authority of King Charles II. Because of his actions, he has established an unanswered identity of himself that questions many historians as to whether he was a pirate or a privateer. Kidd made abrupt decisions in his career that led to his dramatic trials.
Most pirates were anonymous men of humble origin. William Kidd was once a well-known and prominent figure who moved in elite circles, and had important connections …show more content…

The vessel he set forth was renamed The Blessed William, named in honor of England’s new king, William III. William and his French-English crew headed for New York City, which was a famous city port for pirates and privateers at the time. According to Norris, Kidd spent much time at sea on the Antigua, patrolling the coast on behalf of the colonial government. When Kidd arrived in England in 1695, a great war was happening between France and New England. The Royal Navy was in dire straits with France at the time and piracy was becoming a great problem, and unfortunately, growing among the Atlantic seas. Bellomont then appointed Kidd to be captain of a war ship to eradicate pirates in the vicinity of New England. The war vessel, Adventure Galley, included a letter of marque, a “document giving any person legal authority to hunt for pirates, as well as to capture French shipping” (Norris 15). Privateer vessels were so called because they were privately manned and funded. There were members of the Whig party, or English Officers, who assisted Kidd in funding the syndicate: Lord Orford, Baron Somers, and the

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