William Kidd Biography

Quick Facts

NAME: William Kidd
OCCUPATION: Pirate
BIRTH DATE: c. 1654
DEATH DATE: May 23, 1701
PLACE OF BIRTH: Dundee, Scotland, United Kingdom
PLACE OF DEATH: London, United Kingdom

Best Known For

William Kidd is one of the most famous pirates in history, remembered for his execution for piracy on the Indian Ocean.

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William Kidd

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William Kidd. (2013). The Biography Channel website. Retrieved 09:46, Jun 19, 2013, from http://www.biography.com/people/william-kidd-17179370.

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Having abandoned the rotting Adventure Galley for the Quedagh Merchant, Kidd set sail on his new ship for the Caribbean and eventually made his way to a smaller ship in Boston, where he was arrested and eventually shipped back to England.

Trial and Aftermath

On May 8, 1701, Kidd went on a trial. His crimes and previously tight connections with the English elite and government officials caused a sensation. To defend him, as Kidd expected Lord Bellomont and others would do, would only dirty the defender's name and reputation. He was found guilty and hanged on May 23, 1701. To serve as a warning against other pirates, his body was hung in a cage and left to rot for all to see along the River Thames.

Adding to the intrigue around Kidd's history is where exactly all his treasure went. Before he was put to death, the convicted pirate alleged to have buried some of his loot in the Caribbean. Despite generations of treasure hunters who have attempted to verify his claim, nothing has ever been discovered. Instead, we're left with a story that has greatly inspired the fascination we have with pirates like Kidd.