Learn about the real famous pirates who sailed the ocean. Discover what life was really like for these historic figures.
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If you’re looking for real, historical pirates to learn about for summer camp Pirate Week, you’ve come to the right place!
Backyard Summer Camp is full of fantastic pirate crafts and activities. But if you’re ready to find out more about the real pirates who sailed the seas, we put together a collection of resources for learning.
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Historic pirates
A quick note: While we’ve done our best to find kid-friendly resources, the history of pirates tends to include some things that aren’t for all ages. We recommend reviewing content to make sure it’s right for your kids before sharing it with them.
Black Bart
Bartholomew Roberts was known for being polite, drinking tea, and
- Read Black Bart, Daring Pirate of the Atlantic graphic novel
- Watch Black Bart at the Children’s Festival of Welsh History
- Find more at Kiddle Kids Encyclopedia
Blackbeard
Blackbeard was an English sailor believed to be Edward Teach, famous for his scary appearance.
- Read Who Was Blackbeard? in the Who HQ series
- Watch Blackbeard the Pirate on Bedtime History
- Find more at Royal Museums Greenwich
Stede Bonnet
Stede Bonnet was a wealthy plantation owner who turned to piracy and befriended Blackbeard.
- Read Blackbeard the Pirate and Stede Bonnet’s Fateful Clash by Eddie Jones
- Watch The History of the Real Gentleman Pirate on Rounded Kids
- Find more at Smithsonian Magazine
Anne Bonny
Anne Bonny and her friend Mary Read were a pair of the few women pirates in the Caribbean.
- Read Anne Bonny, Fierce Pirate of the Caribbean graphic novel
- Watch Pirates: Behind the Legends from National Geographic
- Find more at Kiddle Kids Encyclopedia
Madame Ching
Ching Shih was the wife of a Chinese pirate who took over his crew and grew it into an impressive fleet.
- Read Ching Shih, Famous Pirate Commander graphic novel
- Watch The Story of Madame Ching from Twinkl Quick History
- Find more at History Hit
Francis Drake
Francis Drake was a privateer who sailed for Queen Elizabeth and became the first Englishman to sail around the globe.
- Read You Wouldn’t Want to Explore With Sir Francis Drake! from Scholastic
- Watch Pirates: Behind the Legends from National Geographic
- Find more at Britannica Kids
Captain William Kidd
Captain Kidd was a pirate hunter before he became a pirate. He’s one of the few who actually buried his treasure.
- Read Captain Kidd, Legendary Pirate Leader graphic novel
- Watch The Story of Captain Kidd in 90 Seconds from The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis
- Find more at Biography
Sir Henry Morgan
Henry Morgan was a buccaneer who became the governor of Jamaica.
- Read Terror of the Spanish Main: Sir Henry Morgan and His Buccaneers by Albert Marrin
- Watch The Life of Henry Morgan from Bedtime History
- Find more at Kiddle Kids Encyclopedia
Grace O’Malley
Grace O’Malley joined her father on his ships as a child. When she inherited his land and ships, she became a powerful leader in Ireland.
- Read Grace O’Malley, Pirate Queen of Ireland graphic novel
- Watch Grace O’Malley: Irish Pirate Queen on Bedtime History
- Find more at Britannica Kids
Calico Jack Rackham
Calico Jack gets his name from the colorful shirts he wore and is known for captaining a ship with Anne Bonny.
- Read The True Tale of Calico Jack Rackham by Caleb P Crosby
- Watch Calico Jack Rackham on History of Pirates
- Find more at History UK
We don’t know much about many famous pirates, but reading about pirate history in general is a great way to learn what life might have been like. Use these resources as a starting point to explore more!
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