Today in History |
November 22, 1718 |
On this day in the year 1718, the notorious pirate Blackbeard was killed in battle off the coast of Ocracoke, North Carolina by a crew of British sailors under the authority of the governor of Virginia. Blackbeard, whose real name was Edward Teach, had a fearsome reputation. He played upon his own legend, sometimes lighting coils of hemp rope afire under his hat to surround himself with smoke during battle. Yet, there is no record of him ever harming any of his captives or any member of his crew. |