Caribbean pirates were the rock stars of the early 1700s - written
and sung about, gossiped and fantasized about. Most buccaneers were also privateers,
or mercenary sailors hired by warring English, Spanish, French and Dutch navies.
Among the most celebrated were two lady swashbucklers.
Charleston raised Anne Bonny eloped to the Bahamas at 16, where she left her husband
to join dashing pirate Calico Jack Rackham's crew. When their ship was captured,
pregnant Anne was spared the noose. She escaped from gaol and was never
seen again. Some credit the governor of Jamaica, whose life Anne had once saved.
Bored London teenager Mary Read shipped out as cabin boy "Mark" Read, married
a sailor, and opened an inn. Suddenly widowed, Mary sailed to the West Indies.
When her ship was overtaken by pirates, she joined them, and later fought alongside
Calico Jack Rackham, Mary Read died in prison, but her legend, and Anne Bonny's,
lives on.
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