Historical Influence of Pirates in Florida

The history of Florida is incomplete without talking about its maritime past and the key role of pirates in it. You’ll hear several accounts of pirates in Florida – some genuine and some works of fiction by people who love exaggerations.

Regardless of what one believes, it is impossible to deny that pirates had had a significant influence on this coastal area, especially during their heydays of the 17th and 18th centuries. Their influence can be seen in Florida's festivals, museums, and other cultural elements.

How and where did it all begin, and who started it? Why did pirates find Florida attractive? How did piracy evolve over the coming decades and years? It is time to answer these questions and clear people's confusion about Floridian history.

The Beginnings of Florida Pirate History

Credible historical accounts tell us that pirates were once a real threat in Florida, and this threat is said to have begun in the 1500s.

These pirates were primarily attracted to the Spanish vessels arriving at the Floridian shores for a stop. The vessels often contained lucrative goods, and once they heard about them, the pirates couldn’t see this opportunity pass.

June 1586 saw the first significant pirates in Florida attack, led by the Englishman Sir Francis Drake. The Florida coast came along his way when he returned with his 23 ships and 2,000 men. Francis and his men saw the light from a Spanish watchtower and realized they were entering the St. Augustine harbor.

Sensing an excellent opportunity for more plunder, he attacked the Harbor with his raiders and outgunned the Spanish defenders. Francis took with himself whatever he could and burned the whole place to ashes.

The Spanish citizens saved their lives by fleeing to the jungle and seeking refuge with Timucuan Indians. Floridians remember this damning tragedy to this day and reenact the event each June.

Famous Florida Pirates

Now that we have started the history of piracy in Florida with Francis Drake, the best course is to discuss famous pirates from each era. It’ll not only help us understand their ambitions but also how they impacted the trajectory of this coastal State.

1. Edward Teach, aka the Blackbeard

Blackbeard was one of the most fascinating and terrifying pirates in Florida in history. He is known for his exploits in the Florida Straits and along the North American East Coast in the 18th century. He used to weave hemp in his iconic beard and set it on fire to terrorize his opponents.

He captured the French ship La Concorde in 1717 and renamed it Queen Anne’s Revenge. This catapulted him into his most productive period, where he led several raids to the Atlantic coastline and the Caribbean Sea. In 1718, he retired the ship on a sandbar in Beaufort Inlet, North Carolina.

When the English Crown announced a pardon for pirates who vowed never to indulge in piracy again, Blackbeard briefly pledged his allegiance to the Crown. He started living in North Carolina as a semi-retired pirate, but the raids from the South didn’t stop.

In one of the raids by Lt. Robert Maynard and his men, Blackbeard was killed in hand-to-hand combat.

2. Robert Searle

Let’s talk about another Englishman who attacked Florida, Robert Searle. He captured a boat in Cuba carrying flour headed toward St. Augustine. His men secretly lay under the deck, awaiting the ship to the Floridian harbor. Searle asked the Spanish crew to keep working as usual so that nobody would suspect wrongdoing upon checking at the harbor.

Upon arrival, the harbor pilot inspected the ship but found nothing wrong. Searle’s men waited patiently for a shock attack as the night started creeping in. At midnight, when everyone fell asleep, the pirates attacked the town and murdered 60 people, which was roughly a quarter of the total population.

They outpowered the Spanish combatants and plundered as much as they could. Everyone without pure Spanish blood was taken captive and sold into slavery. Prominent Spanish people were held captive and weren't released until the ransom was delivered in the form of food, clothes, and tools. St. Augustine residents were thankful Searle didn’t destroy their city like Francis Drake did.

3. Henry Jennings

Henry Jennings was one of the pirates in Florida who seized a vast treasure without killing anyone while looting it. In 1725, Spain was dealing with years of war and desperately needed to strengthen its coffers to fund those wars. Despite warnings of impending thunderstorms, the Spanish Crown ordered a swift transfer of jewels, gold, and silver from Cuba to Spain.

A hurricane smashed into the Spanish fleet at Cape Canaveral and devastated the ships. The treasure started floating in the ocean's shallow waters just 100 yards away from the shore. News of the shipwreck spread like wildfire throughout the Caribbean, and everyone was eager for a share.

Jennings was perhaps the most ambitious of all. In 1716, he gathered his men and headed toward Port Royal, Jamaica. The Spanish had already sent a mission to recover as much treasure as possible.

Jennings encountered their encampment at Sebastian Inlet and attacked them, capturing as much treasure as possible. He then led another expedition to the same place and looted whatever remained of the original treasure.

Pirate Locations in Florida: Places and Festivals to Attend  

Let's now discuss where you can visit to relive the fascinating Floridian pirate history.

1. Pirate and Treasure Museum – St. Augustine

As a buccaneer, St. Augustine Pirate Museum is the perfect start to your Florida trip. Pat Croce, a sports entrepreneur and self-described pirate scholar, is the mind behind this venture.

This place has many fun activities: boarding a life-sized replica of a ship deck, steering a massive captain’s wheel, and several interactive games. In addition, you get to experience artifacts of historical value:

• Blackbeard’s blunderbuss (his gun)
• Gold pieces from his ship
• A real Jolly Roger flag
• Thomas Tew’s treasure chest, the only real surviving one

2. The Pirate Ship at John’s Pass - Madeira Beach

Want to have a realistic pirate experience? This pirate ship has a costumed captain and two mates who take you through gun battles, music, dancing, and whatnot.

Those who love stories would be amused by the tales they tell about the pirates that once ruled these waters. Captain Driftwood also signs an honorary certificate for each child, who receives a paper hat and beads.

3. Gasparilla Pirate Festival

Gasparilla festival is named after the famous 18th and 19th-century Spanish pirate José Gaspar, aka Gasparilla. He was a force of nature during his heyday, ruling waters from Northern Florida to Cuba.

Tampa Bay has been reviving this legend of the seas each year since 1904. Every last Saturday of January, hundreds of pirate-style boats, led by the famous José Gaspar, invade this area. The lead ship announces its arrival with colorful flags and a crew named Ye Mystic Krewe, parading through the waters and symbolically reclaiming the keys from the mayor.

The fun part? Nobody is sure if Gasparilla actually existed, but the mythic Pirates Florida festival does happen each year and is here to stay.

Conclusion

One aspect of Pirates in Florida we shouldn’t forget is their distinct looks, symbolized by the iconic beard and hair. While the 18th-century pirates might not have access to fancy grooming products, you do.

If you are someone with a pirate’s soul, Bay Area Beard Co. offers you the best beard grooming products to give it some well-deserved nourishment.

Our Beard Oil is specially crafted to penetrate deep into the roots of your facial hair to strengthen and help it grow. We also have a wide range of balms, scents, combs, washes and conditioners, colognes, waxes, and other products.

So, grab your grooming collection today from Bay Area Beard Co. and live your pirate dreams in the 21st century.