[4] Anne Bonny: The Firebrand of the Caribbean
Anne Bonny was not your average 18th-century woman. Raised in Ireland and later South Carolina, she ditched her life of privilege for the pirate’s life. She teamed up with Calico Jack Rackham , became one of the few female pirates in history, and fought alongside men, proving she was just as ruthless. Bonny was fierce in battle , reportedly cursing at her fellow pirates when they surrendered instead of fighting to the death. She and Rackham were eventually captured in 1720 , but she avoided execution by "pleading the belly" —claiming she was pregnant. Her fate remains a mystery. Some say she was quietly released, others believe she returned to a respectable life , and a few claim she resumed piracy. Final Thought: Anne Bonny was the original “ride or die” —except if you were too cowardly to fight, then she had zero sympathy for you . Pirate log book entry [PtF]