Charleston and the Golden Age of Piracy

By Christopher Byrd Downey

From its earliest days, Charleston was a vital port of call and center of trade, which left it vulnerable to seafaring criminals.

The Golden Age of Piracy, encompassing roughly the first quarter of the eighteenth century, produced some of the most outrageous characters in maritime history. The daring exploits of these infamous plunderers made thievery widespread along Charleston's waterfront, but determined citizens would meet the pirate threat head-on. From the "Gentleman Pirate," Stede Bonnet, to Edward "Blackbeard" Teach and famed pirate hunter and statesman William Rhett, the waters surrounding the Holy City have a history as rocky and wild as the high seas. Join author and tour guide Christopher Byrd Downey as he tells the tales of Charleston during piracy's greatest reign.

• Language: English
• Publisher: The History Press
• Release date: Apr 23, 2013
• ISBN: 9781614239130

Christopher Byrd Downey

Christopher Byrd Downey (Captain Byrd) received his degree in history from Virginia Tech in 1995 and shortly after graduating began a career in the maritime industry. He has previously authored three books related to the history of Charleston: Stede Bonnet: Charleston's Gentleman Pirate, Charleston and the Golden Age of Piracy and Edgar Allan Poe's Charleston. A native of Virginia, he now lives with his family in Charleston. Visit him at captainbyrds.com.

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