Edward "Blackbeard" Teach was undoubtedly was one the most feared and most despised
                                      pirates of all time. Edward Teach is thought to have lived in England before his pirate career,
                                      although his exact origins are unknown. He was named "Blackbeard" for his large black
                                      beard that almost covered his entire face. To strike terror in the hearts of his enemies,
                                      Blackbeard would weave hemp into his hair, and light it during battle. Edward Teach was an
                                      unusually large man, carrying two swords, numerous knives, and pistols.  He was even feared by
                                      his own crew.

                                       At the sight of this pirate, many of his victims were quick to surrender without a fight. If
                                      they did, he would often times just take their valuables, rum, and weapons— allowing them
                                      to sail away. However, if the vessel resisted capture, he would either kill the crew, or maroon
                                      them. Blackbeard needed to maintain his devilish image in order to maintain the respect of
                                      his crew.  (Very few members of the crew doubted that he was the devil himself; very few
                                      didn’t fear him, and therefore they obeyed him.)

                                       Blackbeard began his pirating career sometime after 1713, as an ordinary crew member
                                      aboard a Jamaican sloop commanded by the pirate Benjamin Hornigold. In 1716, Hornigold
                                      supplied Teach with a small crew and captured vessel to command.  Then by 1717,
                                      Hornigold and Teach were sailing in alliance, and together were feared throughout the seas.

                                      Blackbeard’s pirate partner eventually decided to take advantage of a recent offer
                                      of general amnesty from the British Crown, and retire in comfort. Teach rejected the offer.

                                      In the winter of 1717-1718, Blackbeard sailed the Caribbean with his two ships. While
                                      plundering vessels, Teach decided to add two more captured vessels to his group of pirating
                                      water craft. in the Spring of 1718 Blackbeard X was in command of four pirate ships, and well
                                      over 300 pirates.

                                      In late May, Blackbeard’s flagship was lost at Beaufort Inlet, and a smaller vessel of his fleet
                                      was lost that same day while trying to assist the stranded Queen Anne's Revenge . Before
                                      leaving Beaufort Inlet, Blackbeard left twenty-five members of his crew on a deserted rocky
                                      ledge, and stripped the Revenge of her provisions. Stede Bonnet helped the marooned men,
                                      and in return they agreed to obey his commands. Together with his crew, Bonnet resumed
                                      his lawless ways aboard the Revenge, which he re-named the Royal James.