George Booth (pirate)

George Booth (died 1701) was an English pirate who was active in the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea. Counted among his crew were several pirates who would later become prominent captains including Nathaniel North, Thomas Howard and Booth's eventual successor, John Bowen.

For other people named George Booth, see George Booth (disambiguation).
George Booth
Born
England
Died1701
Zanzibar
Piratical career
TypePirate
Years active1696-1701
Base of operationsIndian Ocean, Red Sea
CommandsSpeaker

History

He is first recorded as a gunner aboard the Pelican under captain Robert Colley about 1696, and later on the Dolphin under captain Samuel Inless, both operating in the Indian Ocean.[1] While he was a gunner on the Dolphin, it and several other pirate vessels were trapped at St. Mary’s Island by a British fleet in September 1699. The crewmen were offered a pardon by the British commander. Some of the pirates such as Robert Culliford accepted the offer, but Booth, North, and others escaped after burning the Dolphin.[1] They captured a French merchant ship by pretending to be merchants, asking to trade liquor and other goods for slaves.[2] Booth was elected their captain, and the pirates sailed to Madagascar.[3]

Booth encountered fellow British pirate John Bowen, and joining forces, they captured the 450-ton 50-gun slave ship Speaker near Majunga in April 1699. Now elected captain of the 54-gun Speaker, Booth sailed towards Zanzibar in late 1700.[4] In early 1701 he stopped to rescue pirate Thomas Howard; Howard had been a member of John James’ crew, marooned when James’ ship was wrecked after rounding the Cape of Good Hope.[3] Tom Collins, who later sailed with Howard, also joined Booth’s crew.[5] While going ashore at Zanzibar for provisions, Booth and Bowen were attacked by Arab troops and Booth was killed in the fighting. After the death of Booth, Bowen was voted by the crew to replace Booth as captain of the small fleet.[4]

See also

References
  1. Rogoziński, Jan (1997). The Wordsworth Dictionary of Pirates. New York: Wordsworth Reference. ISBN 9781853263842. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  2. Little, Benerson (2005). The Sea Rover's Practice: Pirate Tactics and Techniques, 1630-1730. Washington DC: Potomac Books, Inc. ISBN 9781574889109. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
  3. Marley, David (2010). Pirates of the Americas. Santa Barbara CA: ABC-CLIO. ISBN 9781598842012. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
  4. Johnson, Charles (1724). The history of the pyrates: containing the lives of Captain Mission. Captain Bowen. Captain Kidd ... and their several crews. London: T. Woodward. Retrieved 26 July 2017.
  5. Downie, Robert (2005). The Way of the Pirate: Who's Who in Davy Jones' Locker. New York: ibooks. ISBN 9781416504160. Retrieved 11 July 2019.

Category:17th-century births Category:English pirates Category:17th-century pirates Category:18th-century pirates Category:Year of birth missing Category:Piracy in the Indian Ocean

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