Having a doctor on board was an advantage but depended on whether one could be coerced into joining the crew. When a pirate captain captured a second ship and wished to maintain a fleet of his own, the quartermaster was the prime candidate to become its captain.Ī hard life at sea was a young man’s game & so few pirates were aged over 40. In the rare case that the crew had voted for one of their brethren to be flogged, it was the quartermaster who dished out the punishment. The quartermaster’s share of booty was the same as the captain's: double the share of an ordinary seaman. After the takeover, he decided what loot was taken, and then he ensured its fair division amongst the crew. The quartermaster usually supervised which men boarded a target vessel, leading the attack himself. The helmsman, the man who steered the ship’s wheel, was usually supervised by the quartermaster who, skilled in navigation, was also concerned with the ship’s general course and with recording its speed, although this role could be taken by a pirate captain or a sailing master (who was expert in the ship’s sailing capabilities in all conditions). Like the captain, the quartermaster could be voted in or out of office by the crew. He was, then, the equivalent of a merchant First Mate or a naval First Lieutenant. QuartermasterĪ pirate quartermaster (as opposed to one on more legitimate vessels) was often the second-in-command, and below him were the first and second mates. While many pirates faced a real risk of being hanged, the pirate captains were almost guaranteed such a fate, and the most notorious ones might also have their corpses hung in chains to rot for years like Captain Kidd in 1701. On the other hand, if the pirates were caught, the captain could expect the worst judgement of the authorities. With his skills at leadership, navigation, and sheer charisma, a pirate captain earned his double share of the loot captured compared to other crew members. Having a nice long coat and plenty of pricey pistols were other ways of showing one was a successful leader of pirates. 1718) went for terror with a ribboned beard and lit fuses under his hat while Roberts sported scarlet silks, a feathered hat, and a diamond necklace. Pirate captains often dressed the part in the Golden Age. 1721) was relieved of his command for failing to attack a ship as his crew had wished and was replaced by ' Calico Jack' (aka John Rackham, d. The position of captain might not be permanent either, since sailors who had mutinied once before were not shy to do so again. Nevertheless, the most successful captains, those who captured large prizes, could instil some rules and discipline on their men, such as Bartholomew Roberts (1682-1722) who insisted his crew refrain from gambling in the ship’s articles which all his crew swore to abide by. Many mariners had turned to piracy precisely because of the strict discipline and harsh punishments of life on a merchant or naval ship and so they were hardly likely to put up with a leader who ruled by the rod alone. ![]() Perhaps surprisingly for a gang of cut-throats, a pirate captain was frequently elected to his position, but then again, it was difficult to lead through coercion a group of individuals who valued their liberty above all else. Having a nice long coat & plenty of pricey pistols showed that one was a successful leader of pirates.
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