List of pirates

This is a list of known pirates, buccaneers, corsairs, privateers, river pirates, and others involved in piracy and piracy-related activities.

This list includes both captains and prominent crew members.

For a list of female pirates, see women in piracy.

For pirates of fiction or myth, see list of fictional pirates.

Denarius coin of Sextus Pompeius , Roman pirate and general from the Roman Republic era of 44–43 BC. AR Denarius (3.85 g, 3h). Massilia (Gaul) mint. Q. Nasidius, moneyer. Bare head of Pompey the Great right; trident before, dolphin below / Ship sailing right; star above.
Gan Ning was a notorious pirate and marauder in the late 190s CE, who became a Chinese military general serving under the warlord Sun Quan during the late Eastern Han dynasty .
Aruj, or Oruç, Reis was a Barbary privateer and later Admiral in Ottoman service who became known as Barbarossa – or Redbeard – amongst Christians.
Awilda was a 5th-century pirate who, along with friends, dressed up as sailors and commandeered a ship.
Klaus Störtebeker was a 14th–15th century German pirate and one of the leaders of the Likedeelers, a combination of former Victual Brothers (Vitalienbrüder) who roamed Northern European seas.
Yermak Timofeyevich, a 16th-century Cossack river pirate who started the Russian conquest of Siberia in the reign of Tsar Ivan the Terrible
The first man to intentionally circumnavigate the globe, Thomas Cavendish also raided numerous Spanish towns and ships in the New World.
Known as "el Draque" (the Dragon) in Spain, Sir Francis Drake raided Spanish merchant shipping in the Atlantic.
After serving as a Spanish galley slave for four years, Piet Hein later captured 11,509,524 guilders of cargo from the Spanish treasure fleet.
Gráinne O'Malley (left of frame) was an important figure in Irish legend who is still recognised in popular culture today.
Sir John Hawkins . An Elizabethan corsair active off the coasts of West Africa and Venezuela
Sir Francis Verney was one of the most feared Barbary corsairs during the early 17th century.
Sir James Lancaster VI commanded the first East India Company voyage in 1601
Sir Walter Raleigh who commanded two expedition to search the golden city of El Dorado in Spanish colony of Guayana (actual Venezuela)
Sir George Somers . In 1595 co-led with Amyas Preston the raid on Caracas and Coro
Although Jean Bart was born the son of a fisherman, he was able to retire as an admiral in French service on the strength of his captures during his time as a privateer.
William Dampier was the first Englishman to explore or map parts of New Holland (Australia) and New Guinea, and was also the first person to circumnavigate the world three times.
Known only for a single attack against a Spanish galleon (pictured), Pierre le Grand 's existence is disputed.
François l'Ollonais was nicknamed "Flail of the Spaniards" and had a reputation for brutality – offering no quarter to Spanish prisoners.
Roche Braziliano had a reputation for violence, and once roasted two Spanish farmers when they refused to hand over their pigs.
The most successful pirate of the Golden Age of Piracy, Black Bart was estimated to have captured more than 470 vessels.
With his fearsome appearance, Blackbeard is often credited with the creation of the stereotypical image of a pirate.
Miguel Enríquez was the most longeve and the wealthiest of the privateers born in the Caribbean colonies. [ 27 ]
Amaro Pargo . He was one of the most famous pirates of the golden age of piracy , and one of the most important personalities of the 18th century of Spain.
Despite never commanding a ship herself, Anne Bonny is remembered as one of few known female pirates.
Henry Every (or Avery) is famous as one of the few pirates of the era who was able to retire with his takings without being either arrested or killed in battle.
Although modern historians dispute the legitimacy of his trial and execution, the rumour of Captain Kidd 's buried treasure has served only to build a legend around the man as a great pirate.
Luis Brion , Dutch privateer active in the Caribbean before joining as admiral of Simon Bolivar army
Hippolyte Bouchard, oil on canvas by José Gil de Castro
Jean Lafitte
Gregor MacGregor in the British Army , painted by George Watson , 1804
Francisco de Miranda by Martin Tovar y Tovar
Narciso Lopez , Venezuelan filibuster
John A. Murrell , known as the "Great Western Land Pirate," ran an American gang of river pirates and highwaymen along the Mississippi River
William Walker , American filibuster
The last of the successful Caribbean pirates, Roberto Cofresí underwent one of the broadest mythifications among Hispanic pirates.
Ching Shih , from China , the most successful female pirate and one of the world's most powerful pirates in history.
Chui A-poo , a powerful 19th-century Qing Chinese pirate