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Stede Bonnet

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Pirate

The Resume

    (circa 1688-December 10, 1718)
    Born in Barbados
    Captained the Revenge, aka the Royal James
    Raided shipping along the eastern US seaboard
    Defeated and captured during the Battle of Cape Fear River (September 27, 1717)
    Executed by hanging

Why he might be annoying:

    He was a wealthy landowner, so it's not like he was driven to piracy by financial necessity.
    He reportedly took up piracy to escape a nagging wife, which seems a serious overreaction.
    He had no prior experience on ship, so piracy may not have been the best career choice.
    He was not respected by his crews.
    He was a dandy.
    He accepted a pardon (1718), then returned to piracy.

Why he might not be annoying:

    His crew deserted him in favor of Blackbeard, who eventually stripped the Revenge of its loot and most of its supplies and marooned most of the crew.
    He rescued the marooned crewmen despite their fickleness.
    In a bid for clemency, he wrote to the governor of South Carolina, offering to have his arms and legs chopped off as assurance that he would never again commit piracy.
    His execution was delayed seven times because of the sympathy he elicited from the colony's population.

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 3 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 12 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 5 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 10 Votes: 20.0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 12 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 9 Votes: 44.44% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 8 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 15 Votes: 53.33% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 7 Votes: 42.86% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 15 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 12 Votes: 83.33% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 12 Votes: 50.0% Annoying