š“āā ļø Three Pirate Legends, One Remarkable Week
- Captain Blackquill
- 1 day ago
- 6 min read
Black Bart storms Trepassey, Howell Davis changes pirate history with his final breath, and Hugh Jackman prepares to sail for Treasure Island. Issue #60 ā June 19th 2026
Captain Black Quill June 19, 2026
Ahoy, Captain Black Quill
Before we get underway, a hearty Happy Father's Day to all the pirate dads, grandfathers, and salty old sea dogs reading from their captain's chairs today.
This week we're sailing through one of the most important chapters in pirate history. We'll witness the death of the man who made Black Bart Roberts possible, watch Black Bart launch one of his most daring attacks, and celebrate the birth of the swashbuckling movie star who helped define what a pirate looks like for generations.
And speaking of pirate legends, Treasure Island may be setting sail once again with Hugh Jackman at the helm.
Hoist the colors, me hearties. There's adventure on the horizon.
Welcome to Episode 60 of The Pirate Republic.
š THIS WEEK IN PIRATE HISTORY
āļø Three Men Who Changed Pirate History
Not all pirate legends wore a black flag.
Some commanded pirate fleets.
Some inspired them.
And some helped create the pirate image we still recognize today.
This week we look at three men whose lives crossed pirate history in very different ways.
š“āā ļø June 19, 1719 ā Howell Davis Is Shot Dead
Before Black Bart Roberts became the most successful pirate of the Golden Age...
There was Howell Davis.
Davis was clever rather than brutal.
Instead of attacking with overwhelming force, he often relied on deception, disguises, and confidence tricks to capture ships and settlements.
In June 1719, while attempting to lure officials into a trap on the island of PrĆncipe off West Africa, Davis walked directly into an ambush.
A volley of musket fire struck him down.
He was killed instantly.
Yet his greatest legacy was not the ships he captured.
It was one reluctant sailor serving under him.
Pirate history doesn't offer many true father-and-son stories, but Howell Davis and Black Bart Roberts may have come closest. Davis recruited a reluctant Welsh sailor named Bartholomew Roberts and taught him the pirate trade. When Davis was killed, Roberts stepped into his mentor's boots and went on to become the most successful pirate of the Golden Age.
Sometimes the fathers who shape our lives aren't the ones we're born toāthey're the ones who show us who we can become.
The crew elected Roberts captain after Davis's death.
Within a few years, Black Bart would become the most successful pirate in history.
Without Howell Davis, there may never have been a Black Bart Roberts.
š¬ June 20, 1909 ā Errol Flynn Is Born
Not every pirate legend sailed the Caribbean.
Some sailed across movie screens.
On June 20, 1909, Errol Flynn was born in Tasmania.
Through films such as Captain Blood and The Sea Hawk, Flynn helped create the modern pirate image.
The daring sword fights.
The flashing smile.
The swashbuckling hero who always found adventure.
When most people picture a pirate captain swinging across a ship on a rope...
They're often imagining a version of Errol Flynn.
His influence can still be seen in everything from Disney's pirates to modern adventure films.
āļø June 21, 1720 ā Black Bart Roberts Attacks Trepassey
One year after Howell Davis's death, his protƩgƩ was proving why he would become piracy's greatest captain.
On June 21, 1720, Bartholomew Roberts attacked the harbor of Trepassey, Newfoundland.
The raid was devastating.
Roberts captured, burned, or seized dozens of vessels and effectively controlled the harbor.
The attack demonstrated something that separated Roberts from most pirates:
He thought bigger.
Where many pirate captains targeted individual ships, Roberts often targeted entire fleets and ports.
By the end of his career he would capture more than 400 vessels, a record unmatched by any pirate of the Golden Age.
ā Pirate Republic Take
One pirate created a legend.
One actor created a myth.
One captain built an empire.
Together, they helped shape the pirate stories we still tell more than three centuries later.
š“āā ļø Captain Blackquill's Log
"Howell Davis lit the fuse. Black Bart ignited the powder.
And Errol Flynn made sure the world never forgot the explosion." āš“āā ļøš¬
š¬š“āā ļø FROM THE CROW'S NEST
Treasure Island May Be Setting Sail Again
Few pirate stories have shaped popular culture more than Treasure Island.
Long John Silver.
The treasure map marked with an X.
Mutiny.
Buried gold.
Nearly every pirate tale told since 1883 owes something to Robert Louis Stevenson's masterpiece.
Now, according to recent reports, legendary director Ridley Scott is developing a new adaptation of Treasure Island, with Hugh Jackman attached to star.
For pirate fans, that's exciting news.
Jackman has the charisma, presence, and larger-than-life energy needed for a proper pirate adventure. And while Ridley Scott's recent films have been a mixed bag for this old sea dog, there's no denying his ability to create epic worlds on screen.
The project is still in development, with a script reportedly being worked on, so it may be some time before we see a finished film.
But the idea alone is enough to stir excitement.
After all, every generation deserves its own voyage to Skeleton Island.
And if done right, this could introduce a whole new crew of moviegoers to Long John Silver, Jim Hawkins, and one of the greatest adventure stories ever written.
ā Pirate Republic Take
A great Treasure Island film should capture wonder, danger, greed, and the thrill of adventure.
Hugh Jackman feels like a strong choice.
As for Ridley Scott...
Let's just say I'm hopeful.
I haven't truly loved one of his films in quite a while, but if anyone can bring the scale and grandeur of a pirate epic to life, he's certainly capable of it.
For now, we'll keep a weather eye on the horizon and hope this ship makes it safely out of harbor.
"Every pirate fan remembers their first voyage to Treasure Island.
Perhaps a new generation is about to discover theirs."
šš“āā ļø PIRATE EVENT OF THE WEEK
ā Shippensburg Pirate Festival
Not every pirate gathering needs an ocean.
This weekend, pirates, privateers, and treasure hunters descend upon Pennsylvania for the Shippensburg Pirate Festival, a family-friendly celebration of all things pirate.
Expect:
š“āā ļø Costumed piratesāļø Living history and reenactorsšŗļø Treasure hunts and activitiesš¶ Entertainment and vendors
Whether you're a seasoned captain or a first-time deckhand, it's a chance to hoist the colors and spend a day among fellow scallywags.
ā Pirate Republic Take
Every pirate legend starts somewhere.
This weekend, a few new ones might begin in Shippensburg.
"A good pirate festival isn't measured in treasure found...
It's measured in stories brought home." āš“āā ļøš»
š°š“āā ļø PLUNDER OF THE WEEK
ā Pirate Captain's Spyglass
Every pirate needs a good spyglass.
Whether you're scanning the horizon for treasure, enemy sails, or simply looking for the TV remote, this classic brass Pirate Spyglass Telescope brings a touch of seafaring adventure to any captain's quarters.
ā Classic brass nautical stylingš§ Includes compass-inspired detailingš“āā ļø Perfect for desks, bookshelves, and pirate dens
ā Pirate Republic Take
No pirate captain was complete without a spyglass. It was often the first thing used to spot a prize shipāor troubleāon the horizon.
And if you're shopping for Father's Day, this one is showing Prime delivery before Father's Day for many locations.
š View the Pirate SpyglassPirate Spyglass Telescope
"A wise pirate keeps one eye on the horizon...
And the other on the treasure." š“āā ļøš§ā
ā ļø Captainās Log
As we lower the sails for another week, here's wishing all our Pirate Republic fathers a wonderful Father's Day.
May your seas be calm, your treasure chests full, and your crew grateful for the wisdom you've shared along the voyage.
šµ
Fair winds to the fathers,Steady hands on the wheel,Good tales by the fireside,And adventures yet to reveal.
šµ
Until next tide, me heartiesā
Captain Blackquill āš“āā ļø
"A good captain guides a ship. A great father guides a crew."
š£ļø SHARE THE SPOILS, MATEY
Know a landlubber whoād savor tales of treasure, ghost ships, and true pirate history? Donāt hoard the gold ā recruit āem to the crew.
šĀ Join The Pirate Republic here āhttps://www.thepiraterepublic.com/weeklynewsletter-thepiraterepublic
New voyages, bold stories, and rich plunder await those who sail with us.
ā SAIL WITH US ACROSS THE DIGITAL SEAS
šĀ TikTok: @thepiraterepublicā¶ļø YouTube: 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
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