Anne Bonny was a notorious female pirate who operated in the Caribbean during the early 18th century, a period often referred to as the "Golden Age of Piracy." Born around 1697 in County Cork, Ireland, she was the daughter of a servant woman, Mary Brennan, and her employer, lawyer William Cormac. The family moved to Charleston, South Carolina, where Anne grew up.
Renowned for her fiery temper and strong-willed personality, Bonny defied the conventional roles of women in her time. She married a small-time pirate named James Bonny, but soon became disillusioned with him. It was her meeting with Calico Jack Rackham, a charismatic pirate captain, that changed her life. She joined his crew and took to the pirate life with gusto, embracing the freedom and adventure it offered.
Anne Bonny, alongside another female pirate, Mary Read, became known for their skill and ferocity in battle. Dressed as men, they were part of many successful raids. Her life on the high seas was notorious for plundering, battling, and defying the norms of her time.
In 1720, the crew was captured by a pirate hunter commissioned by the Governor of Jamaica. While most of the crew were tried and executed, Bonny and Read claimed they were pregnant, delaying their execution. The fate of Anne Bonny after this point is unclear, with various theories suggesting she either died in prison, was released and lived a long life, or even returned to piracy.
Anne Bonny's legacy lives on as one of the most famous female pirates in history, remembered for challenging gender norms and her rebellious spirit in a male-dominated world.