On this day, Nov. 22, in 1718, Edward Teach, better known as the pirate Blackbeard, was killed in a battle off the North Carolina coast. Blackbeard is believed to have begun pirating in 1713. He later commandeered a French merchant ship, which he renamed Queen Anne’s Revenge and used as the flagship vessel in his fleet.
He became one of the most notorious pirates of his day, terrorizing the Caribbean and Atlantic coast.
In 1718, Virginia Gov. Alexander Spotswood sent a British naval fleet to North Carolina to take on Blackbeard. He was killed in a bloody battle near the Outer Banks. He reportedly received five musketball wounds and 20 sword lacerations before dying.
— Emily Babay