Charles Swan (pirate)

Captain Swan was forced into piracy by his crew in the 1680s, and proceeded to write letters to the owners of his ship Cygnet in London, begging them to intercede with James II of England for his pardon—even as he looted his way up and down the coastal areas of South America.

[1] On 25 August 1685, he separated from his confederates Peter Harris and Edward Davis, and sailed up the coast of Mexico alongside Francis Townley, but met with little success.

Due to the failure of the assault on Santa Pecaque provisions were short, and by the time they reached the East Indies the crew were plotting to eat their officers of the Cygnet as it crossed the Pacific (starting with the Captain).

[6] He managed to save £5,000 (legally the property of the Cygnet's owners) from the mutineers, and remained in Mindanao, becoming an officer in Laut's army.

In 1690 he attempted to escape back to England on a Dutch ship with the money, but was chased by Laut's warriors who capsized his boat and speared him in the water.