William Kidd

William Kidd was born in Greenock, Scotland in 1645. He later immigrated to America settling in New York. There he married Sarah Bradley Cox Oort. They had two daughters: Elizabeth and Sarah Kidd. The marriage brought to Kidd a considerable amount of property and before becoming a pirate he lived as a well respected merchant.

During a trading trip to England Kidd was offered a privateers commission for the purpose of attacking pirates. Four fifths of the cost for the venture was paid for by noble lords, who were amongst the most powerful men in the kingdom; the Earl of Orford, The Earl of Romney, the Duke of Shrewsbury and Sir John Somers. Kidd and an acquaintance, Colonel Robert Livingston paid for the rest. Kidd had to sell his ship the Antigua to raise funds.

The new ship called the Adventure Galley was very suitable for the task of catching pirates and was equipped with 36 cannons and 70 men. However Kidd’s enterprise was not a success, desperate to cover the costs of his enterprise and under pressure from his men he started taking any vessels which were not English. Legally he was only allowed to take French and pirate vessels. As the voyage progressed Kidd’s actions became increasingly more like those of a pirate than an agent of the King.

On October 30,1697 a dispute broke out with one William Moore. In a subsequent fight Kidd threw an ironbound bucket at Moore which killed him.

On the 30th of January 1698 he took an English ship called the Quedah Merchant. Whilst approaching the Ship he raised French Colours. The merchant ship on seeing his French Colours pretended to be French. Kidd took his prize and only later realised that he had in fact captured an English ship. Kidd tried to persuade his crew to return the ship to its owners but they refused.

On the 1st of April 1698 Kidd reached Madagascar. Here Kidd found the first pirate of his voyage, Robert Culliford and his crew sailing the Mocha Frigate. Kidd ordered his men to capture the Mocha Frigate. Instead his men mutinied and joined the pirates of the Mocha Frigate. Only 13 of Kidd’s men remained loyal to him.

Kidd decided to return home, he left the Adventure Galley behind ordering her to be burnt and returned home in the captured Quedah Merchant. When Kidd returned to New York City, he was arrested and placed in Stone Prison He was later sent to England to stand trial for piracy and the murder of William Moore. He was found guilty on all charges and was hanged on May 23, 1701. His body was left to hang in an iron cage over the river Thames, London, as a warning to future pirates.