Born c. 1553. Began as 'a poore fishers brat', probably had a career as a privateer. His known history begins when he was impressed into the navy in 1603. He quickly mutinied and turned pirate, along with a group of about thirty others. Together they stole a small ship, then captured a bigger ship, the Violet of London. By about 1604 Ward was the captain of the band. As a pirate chief, he cruised the Mediterranean, looting ship after ship, getting steadily richer, and gathering more followers. By 1606 his base was at Tunis, and his abettor and protector was the leader of the janissaries there. By 1609 he had converted to Islam and taken an Islamic name. (This reduced his popularity in England.)
Ward was never brought to book. He was one of the richest pirates of the age - maybe the richest. He lived in Tunis in 'a fair palace beautified with rich marble and alabaster stones' - not bad for a fisher's brat. He probably died in Tunis in 1623, of plague, at the age of about seventy.
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John Ward, the pirate
Date: September 20th, 2007 12:48 pm (UTC)Ward was never brought to book. He was one of the richest pirates of the age - maybe the richest. He lived in Tunis in 'a fair palace beautified with rich marble and alabaster stones' - not bad for a fisher's brat. He probably died in Tunis in 1623, of plague, at the age of about seventy.