š“āā ļø Everything You Know About Pirates Started With This...
A 229-year-old warship, pirates facing the gallows, and Captain Blackquill casting bones! Issue #81 ā Nov 13th 2026
Ahoy, Matey
Batten down the hatches, because this week's edition of The Pirate RepublicĀ is packed tighter than a treasure chest full of stolen Spanish doubloons!
We've got a legendary adventure novel that practically invented the pirate as we know him, a Gentleman Pirate headed for the gallows, and Calico Jack facing the consequences of a rather unsuccessful career choice.
And remember that pirate ship we were considering buying last week? Well, that sent me down a rabbit hole that led straight to a 229-year-old wooden warship that's still afloat and capable of sailing!
But wait, there's more plunder aboard!
We've got pirate festivals on both coasts, a Jolly Roger bucket to keep yer grog cold, and a special invitation to join me at the FREE Temecula Renaissance Faire this weekend, where I'll be signing my pirate novels and casting the bones for anyone brave enough to learn their fate!
So grab yer tankard, settle into yer favorite berth, and prepare for a voyage through history, mystery, and a healthy dose of pirate mischief!
Welcome to Episode 81 of The Pirate Republic.
š THIS WEEK IN PIRATE HISTORY
š November 14, 1883 ā Treasure Island: The Book That Invented the Pirate We Know Today!
Ahoy, mateys! Close yer eyes and picture a pirate.
A wooden leg. A parrot on his shoulder. A treasure map marked with an X. A weathered sea dog shouting about pieces of eight.
Now, where did that image come from?
Much of it can be traced to one extraordinary adventure novel: Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson, published in book form on November 14, 1883.
And the whole adventure began with a map!
During a rainy holiday in Scotland, Stevenson and his young stepson, Lloyd Osbourne, were amusing themselves with an imaginary island. Stevenson began imagining its hidden treasures, dangerous inhabitants, and the adventures that might unfold there.
Before long, Jim Hawkins, Long John Silver, Captain Flint's buried treasure, and the HispaniolaĀ were born.
The story first appeared in installments in the children's magazine Young FolksĀ beginning in 1881, under Stevenson's pen name Captain George North. But when it appeared as a book in 1883, Treasure IslandĀ found its enduring audience.
And pirates would never be quite the same again!
ā ļø How Treasure Island Changed Pirate History (Well, the Way We Imagine It!)
Stevenson didn't invent pirates, buried treasure, or parrots. But he brought together so many memorable elements that his fictional buccaneers became the blueprint for generations of pirate adventures.
The treasure map with its mysterious X. The treacherous crew. The tropical island. The frightening old sea captain. And, of course, the unforgettable Long John Silver.
Silver wasn't merely a villain. He was charming, cunning, dangerous, and sometimes surprisingly likable. Readers could never be entirely certain whether to trust him.
Then Hollywood got hold of the story!
Film adaptations, especially Disney's 1950 Treasure IslandĀ starring Robert Newton as Long John Silver, helped establish the exaggerated pirate voice and mannerisms that remain familiar today.
From pirate-themed amusement park rides to Halloween costumes, video games, and blockbuster films, Stevenson's influence is everywhere.
Even Pirates of the CaribbeanĀ owes something to the world of pirate adventure that Treasure IslandĀ helped popularize.
š¬ And Now, Treasure Island Sails Again!
More than 140 years after its publication, Treasure IslandĀ has returned to television!
A new six-part adaptation premiered in October 2026, starring David Oyelowo as Long John Silver, Hayley Atwell as Bess Hawkins, and Tom Sweet as Jim Hawkins.
The new production reimagines Stevenson's classic adventure, bringing Jim's mother aboard the HispaniolaĀ as the hunt for Captain Flint's treasure begins.
The series is airing on MGM+ in the United States and Paramount+ in the UK and Ireland.
Real pirates like Blackbeard, Anne Bonny, and Calico Jack gave us the history. Robert Louis Stevenson gave the world much of its pirate imagination. And 143 years later, we're still hunting Captain Flint's treasure!
ā ļø November 10, 1718 ā The Gentleman Pirate Faces the Hangman!
Stede Bonnet had tried just about everything to escape the consequences of his spectacularly misguided pirate career.
The wealthy Barbados planter had abandoned his comfortable life, purchased a pirate ship, sailed alongside Blackbeard, accepted a royal pardon, returned to piracy, and eventually been captured by Colonel William Rhett.
Then he escaped from custody in Charleston!
Unfortunately for Bonnet, his freedom didn't last.
Recaptured in early November, the Gentleman Pirate was brought before a Charleston court on November 10, 1718, charged with piracy.
Bonnet pleaded not guilty to one charge, but the evidence proved overwhelming. After being convicted, he pleaded guilty to a second charge.
On November 12, Judge Nicholas Trott sentenced him to hang.
Bonnet pleaded for mercy, but the governor refused to spare him.
On December 10, 1718, the Gentleman Pirate met his end at White Point in Charleston.
Bonnet had wealth, education, a respectable family, and every opportunity to live comfortably. Instead, he bought himself a pirate ship and sailed straight toward the gallows. Proof that money can't buy good judgment!
āļø November 16, 1720 ā Calico Jack's Crew Faces Justice!
By November 1720, Calico Jack Rackham's pirating days were over.
Weeks earlier, Captain Jonathan Barnet had encountered Rackham's sloop WilliamĀ off western Jamaica near Negril Point.
Barnet gave chase, and the pirates were captured after a brief confrontation.
Among the prisoners were two women who would become legends of pirate history: Anne Bonny and Mary Read.
According to the later, colorful account in A General History of the Pyrates, Bonny and Read were among the few who resisted while other crew members retreated below deck. It's a wonderful pirate tale, although the surviving trial records don't establish every detail.
On November 16, 1720, Rackham and eight of his men were tried, convicted, and sentenced to death.
Two days later, Rackham and four others were executed at Port Royal.
Bonny and Read faced their own trial on November 28. Both escaped immediate execution after declaring themselves pregnant.
Calico Jack's final voyage ended in disaster, but the legends of Anne Bonny and Mary Read were only beginning. Three centuries later, they're still among the most famous pirates who ever sailed!
ā OLD IRONSIDES: THE 229-YEAR-OLD WARSHIP THAT CAN STILL SAIL!
Ahoy, mateys! Last week, we discovered a pirate ship for sale in Barcelona, Spain, and naturally, I got to thinking.
If we can buy ourselves a pirate ship, just how old a wooden sailing vessel could we find that's still seaworthy?
Turns out, the answer is rather astonishing!
Meet USS Constitution, better known as Old Ironsides, launched in Boston on October 21, 1797.
That's right, mateys. This magnificent wooden warship is 229 years old, and she can still sail under her own canvas!
She's the oldest commissioned warship afloat in the world, and according to the U.S. Navy, the oldest surviving vessel capable of sailing under her own power.
ā ļø A Warship Built to Hunt Pirates!
Now here's where things get particularly interesting for the Republic.
ConstitutionĀ wasn't built to become a floating museum. She was constructed to protect American merchant shipping from hostile warships and maritime raiders.
And among her early enemies?
The Barbary pirates!
In the early 1800s, ConstitutionĀ served in the Mediterranean during America's conflict with the Barbary states, whose corsairs had been capturing merchant vessels and demanding tribute.
So while Blackbeard and Calico Jack were long gone, this mighty frigate was still sailing into waters where piracy and privateering remained serious business.
š„ Why They Called Her Old Ironsides
During the War of 1812, ConstitutionĀ faced the British frigate HMS GuerriereĀ in a fierce naval battle.
As British cannonballs struck the American ship's thick oak hull, some reportedly bounced away without penetrating!
According to tradition, an astonished sailor cried out that her sides must be made of iron.
And a legend was born.
OLD IRONSIDES!
The GuerriereĀ was defeated, and ConstitutionĀ became a national hero.
Despite her fearsome reputation, there wasn't a scrap of iron armor protecting her hull. Just exceptionally strong timber, including dense Southern live oak.
āµ But Can She REALLY Still Sail?
Aye, mateys. And she's proved it!
In 1997, following a major restoration, ConstitutionĀ sailed under her own canvas for the first time in 116 years, celebrating her 200th anniversary.
Then, on August 19, 2012, she did it again to commemorate the bicentennial of her famous victory over HMS Guerriere.
Today, she remains an active commissioned U.S. Navy vessel, maintained by sailors at Boston's Charlestown Navy Yard.
Although she doesn't regularly make voyages under sail, she's still afloat, still commissioned, and preserved as a functioning historic sailing warship.
And consider this: in her fighting days, she could carry more than 44,000 square feet of sail, enough canvas to cover over an acre!
That's a mighty lot of laundry, mateys!
Last week, we considered pooling our doubloons to purchase a 1953 pirate ship.
This week, we've discovered a wooden warship that's 156 years older, fought the British Royal Navy, sailed against the Barbary corsairs, and remains afloat today.
Unfortunately, Old IronsidesĀ isn't for sale.
And considering her history of hunting maritime troublemakers, she probably wouldn't be particularly enthusiastic about joining our proposed pirate fleet!
Fair winds to Old Ironsides, and long may she sail!
ā Explore USS Constitution:Ā https://www.navy.mil/Resources/Fact-Files/Display-FactFiles/Article/2169652/uss-constitution/
šš“āā ļø PIRATE EVENT OF THE WEEK
āļø November 14ā15 ā Temecula Renaissance Faire: FREE ADMISSION & Captain Blackquill!
šĀ CRC Ranch, 43101 Anza Road, Temecula, Californiaš 11 AM ā 7 PM Both Days | FREE Admission | $10 Parking
Ahoy, Southern California pirates! This one's especially close to our hearts!
The Temecula Renaissance FaireĀ returns for a weekend of knights, jousting, medieval merchants, costumed adventurers, food, mead, and merriment!
And here's the real treasure: ADMISSION IS FREE!Ā A rare bargain indeed in the world of Renaissance festivals!
But there's another reason to gather yer crew and make the voyage to Temecula.
Captain Blackquill himself will be there!
That's right, mateys! I'll be manning a booth, signing and selling copies of my Storm of TimeĀ pirate adventure novels, and casting the bonesĀ for those brave enough to discover what fate has in store!
Come say ahoy, pick up a signed pirate adventure, have yer fortune told, or simply share a few tales of high-seas mischief.
š“āā ļø THE PIRATE REPUBLIC TAKE:Ā Free admission, jousting knights, pirate adventures, and Captain Blackquill casting bones? Sounds like a fine weekend to gather the crew! Just remember, mateys, the bones don't always tell ye what ye want to hear!
ā Event Details:Ā https://temrenfaire.square.site/
ā ļø November 13ā15 ā Beaufort Pirate Invasion: The Pirates Are Coming Ashore!
šĀ Gallants Channel Annex, Beaufort, North Carolinašļø $10 Weekend Admission | Children 12 & Under FREE
Batten down the hatches, North Carolina! Beaufort is under attack!
The historic coastal town of Beaufort is preparing for a full-scale pirate invasion, complete with cannon fire, swashbuckling sword fights, living-history encampments, and battles on the waterfront!
The Beaufort Pirate InvasionĀ brings the Golden Age of Piracy roaring back to life with costumed buccaneers, live music, merchants, demonstrations, and plenty of maritime mischief.
Saturday's festivities include a ship-to-shore pirate battle, while Sunday's highlights feature Blackbeard's Last Stand!
And for those scallywags who prefer their revelry after sunset, Saturday evening offers a special Pirate Parlay, with music and entertainment beneath the stars.
š“āā ļø THE PIRATE REPUBLIC TAKE:Ā Cannons roaring, cutlasses clashing, and Blackbeard making his last stand? Sounds like Beaufort has surrendered to the pirates without much of a fight! Gather yer crew and join the invasion!
ā Event Details & Tickets:Ā https://www.thebeaufortpirateinvasion.com/
š°š“āā ļø PIRATE BOOTY OF THE WEEK
ā ļø Keep Yer Grog Cold with the Jolly Roger Beverage Bucket!
Price: $75 | Handmade in Maine, USA
Ahoy, mateys! Every respectable pirate crew needs three things: a sturdy ship, a loyal crew, and somewhere to keep the grog cold!
This week's plunder comes from Sea Bags, a Maine company that transforms retired sailing cloth into seaworthy treasures.
Their Jolly Roger Beverage BucketĀ sports a fearsome skull and crossed cutlasses, sturdy rope handles, and six interior pockets to hold a six-pack of yer favorite brew, with room for ice in the middle.
It's weather-resistant, portable, and even features a drainage hole for melting ice. Perfect for the boat, beach, backyard barbecue, or a particularly rowdy gathering of buccaneers!
And since it's crafted from recycled sails, ye can tell the crew that even yer beverage bucket has spent time at sea!
š“āā ļø THE PIRATE REPUBLIC TAKE:Ā Blackbeard may have had 40 cannons aboard the Queen Anne's Revenge, but did he have a handsome Jolly Roger bucket keeping his rum cold? We think not!
ā ļø Captainās Log
Well, crew, we've sailed from the pages of Treasure IslandĀ to the decks of Old Ironsides, watched pirates face the hangman, and discovered a proper way to keep six bottles of grog cold.
Not a bad week's voyage!
And if ye find yerself anywhere near Temecula, California, this weekend, come find Captain Blackquill at the Renaissance Faire! I'll have signed copies of my Storm of TimeĀ adventures, a few tales to tell, and the bones ready to reveal whatever mischief the fates have planned for ye.
Admission is free, so ye've no excuse for keeping those doubloons buried!
Until our next voyage, keep yer powder dry, yer cutlass sharp, and never trust a pirate who offers to split the treasure afterĀ he's counted it.
Fair winds, following seas, and TO THE REPUBLIC!Ā š“āā ļø
ā Captain Blackquill
š£ļø SHARE THE SPOILS, MATEY
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New voyages, bold stories, and rich plunder await those who sail with us.
ā SAIL WITH US ACROSS THE DIGITAL SEAS
šĀ TikTok:Ā @thepiraterepublicā¶ļø YouTube:Ā The Pirate Republic
šļø THANKS FOR SAILING WITH THE CREW
We set sail every Friday, storm or shine ā delivering pirate history, legends, and lore from across the seas.
Keep yer spyglass trained on the horizon,rest when the winds allow,and may your course be steady, your hold full, and your tales worth telling.
If ye stumble upon treasure, tall tales, or pirate lore worth sharing, send word to:š§Ā captainblackquill@gmail.com
Disclosure:Ā Some links in this newsletter are affiliate links, which means we may earn a few extra doubloons if you make a purchase ā at no extra cost to you. Thanks for keeping The Pirate RepublicĀ afloat, ya savvy sea dog. š“āā ļø
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