He was eventually promoted to commander in 1739, and to captain in 1740, before dying at the age of 66 in his home county of Kent, England.

[1] Alexander Spotswood, Governor of the Colony of Virginia, gave Maynard the command of two sloops, Ranger and Jane.

Meanwhile, Maynard ordered everything inessential to combat to be thrown overboard to make the ship lighter, and eventually freed his keel.

Both men drew their cutlasses and a melee ensued, with Blackbeard managing to break Maynard's weapon.

When Blackbeard was about to deliver a killing blow, another sailor, a Highlander, jumped on his back and inflicted a deep wound.

He also found several items of correspondence, including a letter to Teach from Tobias Knight, the Royal Secretary for the Colony of North Carolina.

The two companies did not receive their prize money for another four years,[6][7] and despite his bravery, Maynard was not promoted, rather, he faded into obscurity.

[8] Maynard's final resting place is in the churchyard of St Martin's Church at Great Mongeham in Kent, southeast England, near the cinque port of Deal.