Throughout the 16th and 17th centuries, Privateers became incredibly successful trading around
the world. Privateer ships were practically war ships that were owned by people who could
steal, pillage and take whatever they wanted. They had government permission to attack enemy
ships, and share any rewards with the government. However one famous privateer and sea captain
was Captain William Kidd, or Captain Kidd and he was a skilled man who sailed many seas,
however he was accused of piracy and with this was sentenced to death and was brutally
gibbeted and executed on the banks of the River Thames. But what is the story of his
execution? Join us today as we look at the brutal execution of Captain Kidd, and remember
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Born in Dundee in Scotland around 1655, William Kidd as a young man settled in New York City
after the English took over from the Dutch. Whilst here he became friends with many important
colonial figures including governors, and around this time he apparently served as an
apprentice on a pirate ship, before he became a privateer. He was a member of a French-English
pirate crew that sailed around the Caribbean, and during one of the voyages he rose up with
other crew members and they managed to oust the captain. Following this they renamed the
Ship Blessed William, and Kidd became the captain through appointment of the governor
of the British colony they sailed to, or by an election onboard. At this time he was an
experienced captain and sailor, and Kidd and his men attacked a French island and destroyed
the only town there and looted the area, gaining 2000 pounds in wealth from this.
During the War of the Grand Alliance, he captured an enemy privateer off the New England coast,
and he then worked on commission from governments and he would get money from privateering,
splitting the loot with locals. His ship was later stolen by Captain Robert Culliford who
was a pirate himself, but he was so rich he helped to create Trinity Church in New York.
He married, but then on the 11th December 1695 he was asked by the Governor of New York
Richard Coote to attack others who were involving themselves with pirates and also French enemy
ships. The request was backed up by the King, and much of his venture was paid for by noble
lords and important powerful men in England. He was given a letter signed by King William
III who authorised him as a privateer, and this letter said that 10% of loot was for
the Crown, and it’s believed the King paid for part of Kidd’s voyage himself.
He had a new ship named the Adventure Galley, and this was a ship which was good for catching
pirates. On board were 34 cannons, and 150 men but also oars which allowed the ship to
manoevre well in battle even when the winds dropped, and he chose the best officers for
his voyage selecting the crew himself. IT was said that, ‘As the Adventure Galley
sailed down the Thames, Kidd unaccountably failed to salute a Navy yacht at Greenwich,
as custom dictated. The Navy yacht then fired a shot to make him show respect, and Kidd's
crew responded with an astounding display of impudence – by turning and slapping their
backsides in disdain. Kidd refused to salute, and much of his crew was pressed into naval
service, however short of men Kidd sailed for New York and captured a French ship en
route.
He then gathered a replacement crew, many who were former pirates. In September 1696,
Kidd set course for the Cape of Good Hope in Southern Africa, and a third of his crew
died due to Cholera, and the new ship had many leaks, and things were not going well.
His ventures were costing too much and he could not cover the costs, and he also failed
to attack a number of ships when he had the chance. Kidd even killed one of his own men
on the 30th October 1697. A gunner was on deck sharpening a chisel when a Dutch ship
appeared, and he urged Kidd to attack, which was considered an act of piracy as the Netherlands
were not at war with the English. But Kidd dropped an iron bucket on him, and fractured
his skull with the gunner dying the next day.
However there were many accusations of piracy levelled against Captain Kidd. Escaped prisoners
said they had been hoisted up and beaten by Kidd and his men. There were accuseations
that Kidd’s men trotured others, and he was declared a pirate by a Royal Navy officer.
Kidd had promised him 30 men, but sailed away at night to maintain his numbers, but this
was seen as an act of piracy. He raised French Colours on the 30th January 1698 and took
his biggest prize, the 400 ton Quedagh Merchant, which was an Indian ship hired by Armenian
merchants. On board was a huge amount of satin, gold, silver and other valuable items. News
of this capture reached England but Kidd was cdeclared a pirate. He later sailed on to
Madagascar, and it’s alleged he met Robert Culliford the pirate who stole his ship years
before. There are different accounts as to what happened, some claimed that he showed
him respect, but another account says that he ordered his crew to attack Cuillford’s
ship. Bit with this, it’s believed many of Kidd’s men abandoned him for the other
pirate, with only 13 remaining on Adventure Galley.
Kidd turned back for home, and his ship was suffering badly. He then ordered the ship
to be burned after he salvaged whatever he could, but before returning to New York City
he knew he was a wanted pirate, and that several English war ships were looking for him. He
would stop off and hide some of his treasure, but he was lured into captivity. The New York
governor invited Kidd to Boston with false promises of clemency, but he was arrested
on the 6th July 1699. He was placed in prison and in solitary confinement and also his wife
was arrested.
His imprisonment was very harsh, and he was driven insane. But after a year, he was sent
to England for questioning by Parliament, and he was placed on trial by the Tory Party
in London. He was charged with piracy on the high seas, and of the murder of his gunner
William More. He was held inside of Newgate Prison, and he wrote many letters to the English
King to be spared and saved, but nothing would come his way. He was given two lawyers to
help, but he was shocked that he was charged with murder. He was found guilty of all the
charges and was then sentenced to death.
His execution occurred on the 23rd May 1701 at Execution Dock, in Wapping London. One
the north bank of the River Thames, execution dock stands still, and here many pirates who
had been condemned to death were hanged and were gibbetted to send a clear warning to
other people not to engage in acts of piracy. However his execution did not go well. He
was brought in front of a large crowd, and the noose was secured around his neck, however
when what he was standing on was kicked out from underneath him, the rope snapped and
Kidd survived. Some claimed that he had been spared by God and that he should be allowed
to live, technically surviving his execution, but this was not good enough for the execution.
A few minutes later, the executioner sourced a new rope, and from the gallows he was hanged
for a number of minutes before he succumbed to his death. But his ordeal wasn’t over.
His body was then displayed and gibbeted over the River Thames at Tilbury Point to send
a message to people not to get involved in acts of piracy, and it was left there rotting
for 3 years. A number of his associates were later convicted of piracy, and many were pardoned
just before they were about to be hanged.
Today a legend has emerged around Captain Kidd that he buried treasure to one day later
return for it. People have searched for this for years, but he was a Scottish Sea captain
who was considered a very skilled military leader. He was a successful privateer and
he would have got incredibly rich, and at times he was even in the pockets of the government
and the King, and they hoped that he would get them a significant amount of wealth and
riches for the treasury. But on the banks of the River Thames, he was executed and his
remains were then displayed for a number of years.
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