Were Pirates Executed by Drowning? The Murky Depths of Pirate Justice

The answer isn’t a straightforward “yes” or “no,” but rather a conditional one. While drowning wasn’t the primary or official method used by established legal systems to execute pirates, it certainly existed in the world of pirates. It was a gruesome fate that could befall them in a few ways.

Historically, formal executions of pirates usually involved hanging. However, the brutal reality of life at sea, both within naval and pirate cultures, meant that drowning as a form of death, whether as punishment or simply resulting from maritime mishaps or internecine conflicts, was far from uncommon. Pirates also used drowning to execute their prisoners.

Pirate Justice: More Than Just the Gallows

The image of pirates swinging from the gallows at Execution Dock in London is a powerful one, and indeed, hanging was the most common official method for dealing with captured pirates, particularly those convicted by Admiralty courts. This served as a stark warning to others contemplating a life of piracy. The bodies of some particularly notorious pirates, like Captain Kidd, were even gibbeted, meaning they were hung in chains in a public place to rot, further emphasizing the consequences of their actions.

However, away from the reach of formal justice, the waters were murkier. Drowning certainly played a role in the demise of pirates, though not always as a sanctioned form of punishment. Here’s where the nuances come in:

• Naval Justice (and Injustice): The article states that drowning was used for capital crimes in the navies of the world. While technically not “pirate execution,” the lines between naval actions and piracy were often blurred in the age of sail. Impressment, privateering turning to piracy, all lead to the death penalty and at times, death by drowning. Sailors found guilty of serious offenses could indeed face drowning as a punishment, setting a precedent within the maritime world.

• Pirate-on-Pirate Violence: Pirate crews were often volatile, and disputes could be settled with extreme violence. Mutiny, disagreements over treasure, or perceived slights could lead to a swift and watery grave for the unlucky. A pirate could very well be thrown overboard to drown.

• Pirate “Justice” (or Lack Thereof): Pirates were known for their cruelty, and while their own code sometimes had rules, they often did not extend to their captives. The article mentions that pirates used drowning to execute prisoners. Captured sailors or passengers might be forced to walk the plank, weighted down and cast into the sea, as a form of terror and control.

• Accidental or Incidental Drowning: Life at sea was inherently dangerous. Storms, shipwrecks, and even drunken accidents could easily lead to a pirate meeting their end beneath the waves. This, of course, wasn’t a formal execution, but it significantly contributed to the number of pirates who died by drowning.

Therefore, while drowning was not the official method of pirate execution by authorities, the realities of maritime life, combined with pirate brutality, meant that it was a fate many pirates likely met, either as victims of their own kind, or as a result of other factors in life at sea.

FAQs: Delving Deeper into Pirate Fates

Here are some frequently asked questions to further explore the topic of pirate executions and the various ways pirates met their end:

1. What was Execution Dock, and how was it used?

Execution Dock was a specific location on the River Thames in London where pirates were hanged under the jurisdiction of the Admiralty court. It was strategically placed near the water to emphasize the connection between the crimes committed and the sea. This spot is shown on old maps of London and lies a mile downstream from the Tower of London on a bend of the river at Wapping.

2. What was “walking the plank,” and did pirates really do it?

“Walking the plank” is a popular trope in pirate fiction, where captives are forced to walk off the end of a plank into the sea. While there’s no definitive historical evidence that it was a common practice, anecdotal accounts and the inherent cruelty of pirates suggest it likely occurred, though perhaps not as frequently as popular culture depicts.

3. What was “keelhauling?”

Keelhauling was a brutal form of punishment where a person was dragged under the keel (bottom) of a ship, often with ropes. This could result in drowning, severe lacerations, or even death, depending on the length and severity of the drag. It was more common in naval settings than explicitly among pirates, but the line between the two could blur.

4. Why was hanging the preferred method of pirate execution?

Hanging served as a public spectacle, deterring others from engaging in piracy. It was a relatively quick and efficient method of execution, and the display of the body afterwards further emphasized the consequences of breaking the law.

5. What happened to pirates who weren’t executed?

Pirates who weren’t executed might be imprisoned, forced into naval service, or, if lucky, released. However, release was rare, as pirates were seen as a threat to trade and maritime security. Many pirates died from disease or violence before they were ever caught.

6. Were female pirates executed differently than male pirates?

No, there is no evidence to suggest that female pirates were executed differently than male pirates. They faced the same legal system and the same potential punishments, including hanging.

7. Did pirates have their own forms of justice or punishment?

Yes, pirates had their own codes and forms of punishment. These often involved physical violence, such as flogging, marooning (abandoning someone on a deserted island), or even summary execution for serious offenses. Their justice was often swift and brutal.

8. Who was Captain Kidd, and what happened to him?

Captain William Kidd was a Scottish privateer turned pirate. He was eventually captured, tried, and hanged for piracy and murder in London in 1701. His body was then gibbeted as a warning to others.

9. What role did the Royal Navy play in pirate executions?

The Royal Navy was the primary force responsible for capturing pirates and bringing them to justice. Naval vessels patrolled the seas, hunted down pirate ships, and apprehended their crews. Once captured, pirates were handed over to the Admiralty courts for trial and potential execution.

10. Was piracy considered a capital crime?

Yes, piracy was generally considered a capital crime throughout the Golden Age of Piracy (roughly the 17th and 18th centuries). This meant that conviction for piracy typically resulted in the death penalty.

11. How did diseases affect pirates?

The article mentions that many pirates died from blood poisoning after minor injuries. Furthermore, due to the close quarters, it was easy for infection to spread from one person to another. This would lead to epidemics of the flu, diarrhea, and other contagious diseases on a ship. This led to a high mortality rate at sea.

12. What was the instinctive drowning response?

The instinctive drowning response is when a drowning victim is not what you typically might see in the movies — arms splashing, person yelling for help. In reality, drowning is much more silent and is often mistaken for playing as there is no yelling.

13. Did pirates have any sanitary methods on board of ships?

No. Before the late 15th century, sailors would either relieve themselves over the side of their ship, or collect any waste in buckets to be thrown overboard. By the 16th century it was a common practice for individuals to use the bow of the ship for this purpose. In other words, pirate ships didn’t have toilets.

14. How would a wound be treated?

First the wounded pirate would get a drink of rum to numb the pain slightly. Then the ‘surgeon’ would tie a tourniquet to the affected limb to stop the flow of blood. Next the ‘surgeon’ would saw off the arm or leg. A hot axe would cauterise the wound.

15. Who was considered the evilest pirate?

Edward Low started his piratical career in 1721 in the Caribbean. Over the next few years, Low blazed a path of destruction, becoming, according to one contemporary account, “the most noted pirate in America” – and certainly the most vicious. He seemed to relish torturing and killing his victims.

While the official records may highlight hanging as the primary form of execution, understanding the broader context of maritime life and pirate culture reveals that drowning was undoubtedly a significant, if less formalized, aspect of the pirate experience, both in life and in death. Learn more about games and learning at the Games Learning Society website. Visit GamesLearningSociety.org to explore innovative approaches to education and engagement.