Robert Lane (pirate)
Robert Lane | |
|---|---|
| Died | Brazil |
| Occupation | Pirate |
| Known for | Sailing with Edward England |
| Piratical career | |
| Base of operations | Caribbean and off the coast of Africa |
| Commands | Queen Anne's Revenge |
Robert Lane (died 1719) was a pirate active in the Caribbean and off the coast of Africa. He is best known for sailing with Edward England.
History[edit]
Edward England had taken the ship Pearl (renamed Royal James) in late 1718, pirating between the Azores and Cape Verde.[1] In spring 1719 he took a number of ships near Gambia.[2] Several he burned or looted and let go, but he kept two.[1] One of them was the 4-gun, 18-man Mercury, commanded by Captain Maggot out of London, which he captured on 29 May.[3] A few of the Mercury's crew joined England's pirates. England crewed and refitted the Mercury and renamed it Queen Anne's Revenge, appointing Robert Lane as captain.[3]
Lane sailed alongside Robert Sample, who captained the other vessel England had refitted. They sailed to the Caribbean, looting several ships before careening their vessels.[2] That November they sailed to Brazil "and did a great deal of mischief", plundering Portuguese ships.[2] They were approached by a Portuguese man-of-war ("a very unwelcome guest to them") who chased the two pirates.[2] Sample was forced to beach his ship and was captured. Lane escaped the man-of-war, but he and his crew perished when the Queen Anne's Revenge was lost ashore.[2]
Robert Lane's ship Queen Anne’s Revenge should not be confused with Blackbeard’s ship Queen Anne's Revenge, which had been grounded and wrecked at Topsail Inlet in spring 1718.[4]
See also[edit]
- Pirate Code, the “articles” signed by Mercury’s men when they joined England's pirate crew
References[edit]
- ^ a b Grey, Charles (1933). Pirates of the eastern seas (1618-1723): a lurid page of history. London: S. Low, Marston & co., ltd. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
- ^ a b c d e Johnson, Captain Charles (1724). A General History of the Pyrates. London: T. Warner. Retrieved 18 June 2017.
- ^ a b Seitz, Don Carlos (1925). Under the Black Flag: Exploits of the Most Notorious Pirates. New York: Dial Press. p. 167. ISBN 9780486421315.
- ^ "Blackbeard Museum in North Carolina | Queen Anne's Revenge Project". www.qaronline.org. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
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