A general history of the pyrates
- First published
- 1724
- Reading level
- Fairly demanding
- Price
- Free
About the book
"A general history of the pyrates: from their first rise and settlement in the…" by Captain Charles Johnson is a book published in 1724 containing biographies of contemporary pirates. This influential work shaped popular conceptions of piracy, introducing features like buried treasure, the Jolly Roger flag, and mythical portrayals of figures like Blackbeard. Though not a historical primary source, it inspired writers like Robert Louis Stevenson and J.M. Barrie. The true author's identity remains unknown, with theories suggesting Daniel Defoe or publisher Nathaniel Mist.
- Pirates
Updated September 2026. Public domain in the USA. Text and summary from Project Gutenberg eBook #40580. A general history of the pyrates on Wikipedia.
