wlmkdd

In 1689 William Kidd became a legitimate privateer in service to Great Britain. He was legally permitted to attack French vessels on the open seas and while in service to the Crown he amassed a small fortune of personal wealth.
During the autumn of 1690, Kidd established himself as a ship owner and captain in New York City. He invested in property along the American east coast and owned taverns, docks and whaling vessels as far south as Cape May, New Jersey. During his profitable tenure as a landholder, Kidd was charged by the governors of Massachusetts, New York and New Jersey to protect the coastline from pirates. Though much of his life was spent in lawful service, Kidd was lured by the idea of piracy when in 1695 he was commissioned by England to set sail and capture ships that attacked the vessels of the East India Company.
Finding this work to be tedious, Kidd sailed in hs ship, the "Adventure Galley" until giving in to his infamous destiny. In 1697 he attacked the Armenian vessel "Quedagh Merchant" and captured her cargo. Giving up the "Adventure Galley", Kidd now sailed in the "Quedagh Merchant" until he learned in Port Royale that he was now a hunted pirate. He abandoned his prize vessel and purchased a new one, the "Antonio". With his pirated loot on board, Kidd decided to return to New York to plead his innocence to his friend, the governor.
Not certain if his friend would believe his innocence, Kidd docked at the port of Ocean City, New Jersey where he was presumed to have buried a great portion of his treasure. Consequently, the governor of New York did not believe William Kidd to be innocent of piracy and had him handed over to colonial authorities to be returned to England for trial. He was found guilty and hanged on May 23, 1701.
Years after the trial it was learned that much evidence was suppressed at his hearings and it is now widely believed that Kidd was made an example of in the days when commissioned privateers had become shameful tools of the countries that employed their services. It was said at Kidd's trial that he was never given a Privateering Commission at all from the English Crown and that Captain Kidd had acted solely on his own during the raids.
However in his New York home in 1709, his official Privateering Commission was indeed found.

Captain William Kidd Born 1645 Renfrew, Scotland. Died May 23, 1701, London


	Captain Kidd The Pirate In 1689 William Kidd became a legitimate privateer in service to Great Britain. He was legally permitted to attack French vessels on the open seas and while in service to the Crown he amassed a small fortune of personal wealth. During the autumn of 1690, Kidd established himself as a ship owner and captain in New York City. He invested in property along the American east coast and owned taverns, docks and whaling vessels as far south as Cape May, New Jersey. During his profitable tenure as a landholder, Kidd was charged by the governors of Massachusetts, New York and New Jersey to protect the coastline from pirates. Though much of his life was spent in lawful service, Kidd was lured by the idea of piracy when in 1695 he was commissioned by England to set sail and capture ships that attacked the vessels of the East India Company. Finding this work to be tedious, Kidd sailed in hs ship, the "Adventure Galley" until giving in to his infamous destiny. In 1697 he attacked the Armenian vessel "Quedagh Merchant" and captured her cargo. Giving up the "Adventure Galley", Kidd now sailed in the "Quedagh Merchant" until he learned in Port Royale that he was now a hunted pirate. He abandoned his prize vessel and purchased a new one, the "Antonio". With his pirated loot on board, Kidd decided to return to New York to plead his innocence to his friend, the governor. Not certain if his friend would believe his innocence, Kidd docked at the port of Ocean City, New Jersey where he was presumed to have buried a great portion of his treasure. Consequently, the governor of New York did not believe William Kidd to be innocent of piracy and had him handed over to colonial authorities to be returned to England for trial. He was found guilty and hanged on May 23, 1701. Years after the trial it was learned that much evidence was suppressed at his hearings and it is now widely believed that Kidd was made an example of in the days when commissioned privateers had become shameful tools of the countries that employed their services. It was said at Kidd's trial that he was never given a Privateering Commission at all from the English Crown and that Captain Kidd had acted solely on his own during the raids. However in his New York home in 1709, his official Privateering Commission was indeed found.

View Kidd's Privateering Commission View A Document Suppressed At Kidd's Trial Return To Main Page Back