John Bowen Pirate Country: Great Britain

1. Early Life and Introduction to Piracy
2. Ascent to Captaincy and Early Success
3. A Cooperative Pirate
4. Reinforcement and Expansion
5. Withdrawal and Demise

Early Life and Introduction to Piracy

John Bowen, a native of Bermuda, relocated to the Province of Carolina as a child. He embarked on a career as a seaman aboard an English vessel, but his destiny took a dramatic turn when French pirates attacked the ship. Taken captive, Bowen sailed across the Atlantic, narrowly escaping a shipwreck that set him and his crew free near Madagascar.

Ascent to Captaincy and Early Success

Upon reaching Madagascar, Bowen found employment on land before becoming a navigator under the renowned pirate captain Read. Fortune smiled upon him during his first voyage, leading to the capture of an Indian merchant ship laden with valuable cargo. However, Bowen's time under Read was short-lived, as he soon joined George Booth's crew.

In April 1699, Bowden and his fellow pirates seized the 50-gun ship 'Speaker,' which became their flagship. Upon Booth's demise, Bowen assumed command of the 'Speaker' and continued his piratical exploits, attacking a fleet of 13 merchant vessels. Despite the escape of some ships, the raid netted a substantial £100,000 in booty.

A Cooperative Pirate

Bowen maintained a pragmatic approach to piracy, trading with local ports and occasionally selling captured vessels. In 1701, the 'Speaker' foundered on a reef, forcing its crew to flee in lifeboats. They later commandeered the brigantine 'Content' and seized the English 'Speedy Return' under Captain Drummond and a slave ship transporting Africans to sugar plantations in Portugal.

The slave ship was set ablaze, as was the 'Content' after it ran aground. The supplies and crew of both vessels were transferred to the 'Speedy Return,' which was hailed as one of the most formidable pirate vessels in the region.

Reinforcement and Expansion

In 1703, John's gang received reinforcements with the arrival of the 36-gun ship 'Prosperous,' captained by his comrade Thomas Howard. Together, they captured the 'Pembroke' and two Indian ships, one of which was burned for its lack of value. The other, renamed 'Defiant,' became an integral part of their fleet.

Withdrawal and Demise

The 'Speedy Return' and 'Prosperous' eventually met their end due to old age. Howard became captain of the 'Defiant,' while Bowen, weary of piracy, chose to retire. Six months after arriving in Madagascar, he succumbed to a bowel disease and was laid to rest on the island of Reunion.

John Bowen's adventures were chronicled in 'A General History of the Pyrates' by Captain Charles Johnson, a pseudonym believed to belong to Daniel Defoe. Today, historians recognize the historical significance of Bowen's exploits in the annals of piracy.