Privateer and pirate, probably born in Greenock, Inverclyde, WC Scotland, UK. He established himself as a sea captain in New York (1690), saw much privateering service, and gained a high reputation for courage. In 1696 he was commissioned to suppress piracy, and reached Madagascar, but then turned pirate himself. After a 2-years' cruise he returned to the West Indies, ventured to Boston, and was arrested. He was convicted of piracy and murder, and hanged in London. The unsubstantiated legends about his buried treasure have often been referred to in literature, especially in Edgar Allen Poe's The Gold Bug (1843) and Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island (1883).
However, historical record calls this characterization into question, as there is evidence that Kidd acted only as a privateer.Early life and career
Kidd was born into a reputable family in Greenock, Scotland. (Aberdeen University researchers have claimed that Kidd was born in Dundee, Scotland in 1645, but have been proven wrong on several occasions.) However, after the death of his father when he was five, Kidd's family's income was severely reduced. They had two daughters: Elizabeth and Sarah Kidd. The marriage eventually brought to Kidd a considerable amount of property (after the legal dispute around her inheritance from her first husband was resolved). During this time, Kidd was respected as an honest, hard-working ship captain. Shortly thereafter, Kidd was awarded GBP150 for successful privateering in the Caribbean. One year later, "Captain" Culliford, a notorious pirate, stole Kidd's ship while he was ashore at Antigua in the West Indies.
Preparing his expedition
On December 11 that same year, Coote, who was now governing New York, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire, asked the "trusty and well beloved Captain Kidd" (Hamilton, 1961) to attack Thomas Tew, John Ireland, Thomas Wake, William Maze, and all others who associated themselves with pirates, along with any enemy French ships. According to Henry Gilbert writing in The Book of Pirates, Kidd's backers were rumored to include King William himself. Kidd and an acquaintance, Colonel Robert Livingston, who orchestrated the whole thing, paid for the rest. Kidd had to sell his ship the Antigua to raise funds. Kidd took pride in personally selecting the crew, choosing only those he deemed to be the best and most loyal officers. Unfortunately, soon after setting sail he was stopped by the HMS Duchess, whose captain pressed much of Kidd's crew for service in the navy, despite rampant protestation. To make up for the lack of officers, Kidd was sent replacement crew, the vast majority of whom were known and hardened criminals, some undoubtedly former pirates.
Hunting for pirates
In September 1696, Kidd set sail again. According to Gilbert, after taking a single French ship (which was legal under his commission) on the first leg of his voyage, he proceeded eastward to Madagascar but was not able to find pirates to take in that vicinity. Kidd then sailed to the Malabar Coast. During this time Kidd never attacked a single richly-laden Indian ship that passed before him, and probably was not yet pirate at the time. But, once again, Kidd failed to attack several ships when given a chance, including a Dutchman and New York privateer. Some of the crew now deserted Kidd the next time the Adventure Galley anchored offshore, and those who decided to stay behind made constant open-threats of mutiny.
On October 30, 1697, an argument developed between Kidd and his gunner William Moore, a strong follower of the mutinous crew. While Moore was on deck sharpening a chisel, Kidd called him a lousy dog. After an exchange of strong words, Kidd snatched up and heaved an ironbound bucket at Moore. On one occasion, crewmembers ransacked the trading ship, Mary and tortured several crewmembers while Kidd and the other captain, Thomas Parker conversed privately in Kidd's cabin. When Kidd found out what had happened, he was outraged and forced his men to return most of the stolen property.
Kidd was declared a pirate very early in his voyage by a Royal Navy officer to whom he had promised "thirty men or so" (Hamilton, 1961). Kidd sailed away during the night to preserve his crew, rather than subject them to Royal Navy impressment. The British East India Company happily took care of the task of spreading rumors of Kidd's exploits, where his actions grew more vicious with each retelling. However, after realizing the captain of the taken vessel was an Englishman, Kidd tried to persuade his crew to return the ship to its owners, but they refused, knowing that their prey was perfectly legal as Kidd was commissioned to take French ships. In an attempt to maintain his tenuous control over his crew, Kidd relented and kept the prize. Unfortunately, when news of the deed reached England, along with rumors of torture, the British East India Company declared Kidd a pirate. Various naval commanders were ordered to “pursue and seize the said Kidd and his accomplices” for the "notorious piracies" (Hamilton, 1961) they had committed. All the while Kidd believed that he was still following his commission, for he kept the French commission of the Quedagh Merchant and was still on the lookout for pirates.
On April 1, 1698, Kidd reached Madagascar. Here Kidd found the first pirate of his voyage, Robert Culliford, (the same man who had stolen Kidd’s ship years before) and his crew sailing the Mocha Frigate. Kidd ordered his men to capture the Mocha Frigate.
Deciding to return home, Kidd left the Adventure Galley behind ordering her to be burnt because she had become worm-eaten and leaky.
Trial
Prior to Kidd returning to New York City, he learned that he was a wanted pirate, and that several English men-of-war were searching for him.
He was eventually (after over a year) sent to England to stand trial, and on May 8 he was tried by High Court of Admirality in London for the charges of piracy on high seas and the murder of William Moore. Whilst awaiting trial, Kidd was imprisoned in the infamous Newgate Prison and wrote several letters to the joint sovereigns, William III of England and Mary II of England, demanding clemency. During the execution, the hangman's rope broke and Kidd was hanged on the second attempt.
Kidd's Whig backers were embarrassed by his trial. These papers call the extent of Kidd's guilt into question.
Mythology and legend
The belief that Kidd left a buried treasure somewhere contributed considerably to the growth of his legend.
Captain Kidd did bury a small cache of treasure on Gardiner's Island in a spot known as Cherry Tree Field, however it was removed by Governor Bellomont and sent to England to be used as evidence against him.
Kidd also visited Block Island around 1699, where he was supplied by Mrs. Mercy (Sands) Raymond, daughter of the mariner James Sands. The story has it that, for her hospitality, Mrs. Raymond was bid to hold out her apron, into which Kidd threw gold and jewels until it was full.
User Comments Add a comment…