The rebirth of piracy off the coast of Africa has created a new interest in pirates. For citizens of the United States the top pirates lived in the Caribbean 400 or 500 hundred years ago. There they raided Spanish ships laden with treasure from the New World back home to Spain. Some of the first were actually privateers paid by Spain’s enem,ies, England, the Netherlands, and France. As the English and French gained New World treasures, the pirates attacked their ships at the same time.

It was the ratio of attacks on ships that helped start the insurance industry. Let us say 1 in 10 ship were raided. So if everyone chipped in 10% of their treasure into a pot, then all would be protected against this 10 per cent risk.

The riches Spain discovered in the New World drew the fortune seekers to the Caribbean. The well known Welshmen, Henry Morgan, was an original privateer. He was engaged to attack the Spanish in the Caribbean. Hw was paid by the British through their offices in Jamaica. So holiday makers enjoying a holiday today in Jamaica may be incredulous that after his privateer days ended, Morgan received a knighthood and was given the position of lieutenant governor. But although knighted, according to the Spanish even today, Henry Morgan continued to be a ruthless pirate.

Edward Teach, alias Blackbeard, was regarded by all as a ruthless pirate. Although many doubt he had thirteen wives, one story from a trsuted source, has Blackbeard married thirteen women; the thirteenth was a teenager he prostituted to his crew. So it remain doubtful that he had time to get married, never mind to thirteen women. How would these villains view all inclusive hoildays today accompanied by speedy jet travel to catered and pampered resorts. Hardly a life they could ever have imagined when thrusting their swords into innocent travelers.