Blackbeard

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Blackbeard

English pirate

Also known as: Edward Teach, Edward Thack, Edward Thatch

Written and fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last Updated: Nov 22, 2024 • Article History

Quick Facts

Byname of:: Edward Teach

Teach also spelled:: Thatch or Thack

Born:: c. 1680, Bristol?, England

Died:: November 22, 1718, Ocracoke Island, North Carolina [U.S.]

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Blackbeard (born c. 1680, Bristol?, England—died November 22, 1718, Ocracoke Island, North Carolina [U.S.]) was one of history’s most famous pirates, who became an imposing figure in American folklore. Little is known of Blackbeard’s early life, and his origins have been left to speculation. He has been widely identified as Edward Teach (or several variations thereof, including Thatch and Thack), though pirate custom at the time was to use a pseudonym when engaging in acts of piracy, and his true name will probably never be known. Thought to have been active as a privateer for the British during the War ...(100 of 293 words)

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