George Booth (pirate)
Encyclopedia
George Booth was an English pirate who was one of the earliest active in the Indian Ocean
and the Red Sea
during the late 17th century. Among his fleet included prominent captains such as Nathaniel North
, Thomas Howard
and Booth's eventual successor, John Bowen
.
Although his early life is largely unknown, he is first recorded in his career as a gunner aboard the Pelican around 1696, and later the Dolphin, both of which operated in the Indian Ocean.
While Booth was still a gunner aboard the Dolphin, she was trapped at Sainte-Marie Island
by a British fleet in September 1699. The crew of the Dolphin were offered a pardon by the British commodore. Although some of the pirates surrendered, Booth was among those who escaped to nearby Madagascar
after burning the Dolphin. Booth would later participate in the capture of a French merchant ship on the pretence of buying supplies carrying liquor and other goods in exchange for slaves and, elected by the crew as captain, they continued onward to Madagascar.
Booth later encountered fellow British pirate John Bowen and, choosing to join forces, they later captured the Speaker, a 450 ton slaver carrying 50 guns, near Majunga in April, 1699. As captain of the newly captured prize, Booth eventually sailed towards Zanzibar
and arrived towards the end of 1700. While going ashore for provisions, Booth and Bowen were attacked by Arab troops and Booth was killed in the fighting. After the death of Booth, Bowen was voted by the crew to replace Booth as captain of the small fleet.
Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula ; on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and...
and the Red Sea
Red Sea
The Red Sea is a seawater inlet of the Indian Ocean, lying between Africa and Asia. The connection to the ocean is in the south through the Bab el Mandeb strait and the Gulf of Aden. In the north, there is the Sinai Peninsula, the Gulf of Aqaba, and the Gulf of Suez...
during the late 17th century. Among his fleet included prominent captains such as Nathaniel North
Nathaniel North (pirate)
Nathaniel North was a pirate during the Golden Age of Piracy who operated in the Indian Ocean. He served under John Bowen and succeeded him as captain of the Defiant following Bowen's retirement in 1704. After losing the Defiant, he was ruler of a pirate colony at Ambonavoula made up of his former...
, Thomas Howard
Thomas Howard (pirate)
Thomas Howard was a pirate primarily active in the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea during the Golden Age of Piracy. He served under other pirates of the time, including George Booth and John Bowen. He also commanded the 36-gun Prosperous. He later retired to Rapajura, in India, where he married a...
and Booth's eventual successor, John Bowen
John Bowen (pirate)
John Bowen was a pirate of Créole origin active during the Golden Age of Piracy. He sailed with other famous contemporaries, including Nathaniel North and George Booth, who was his captain when he served under him as a crewman aboard the Speaker...
.
Although his early life is largely unknown, he is first recorded in his career as a gunner aboard the Pelican around 1696, and later the Dolphin, both of which operated in the Indian Ocean.
While Booth was still a gunner aboard the Dolphin, she was trapped at Sainte-Marie Island
Sainte-Marie, Réunion
Sainte-Marie is a commune in the French overseas department of Réunion. It is located on the north side of the island of Réunion, just east of, and adjacent to, the capital of Saint-Denis....
by a British fleet in September 1699. The crew of the Dolphin were offered a pardon by the British commodore. Although some of the pirates surrendered, Booth was among those who escaped to nearby Madagascar
Madagascar
The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...
after burning the Dolphin. Booth would later participate in the capture of a French merchant ship on the pretence of buying supplies carrying liquor and other goods in exchange for slaves and, elected by the crew as captain, they continued onward to Madagascar.
Booth later encountered fellow British pirate John Bowen and, choosing to join forces, they later captured the Speaker, a 450 ton slaver carrying 50 guns, near Majunga in April, 1699. As captain of the newly captured prize, Booth eventually sailed towards Zanzibar
Zanzibar
Zanzibar ,Persian: زنگبار, from suffix bār: "coast" and Zangi: "bruin" ; is a semi-autonomous part of Tanzania, in East Africa. It comprises the Zanzibar Archipelago in the Indian Ocean, off the coast of the mainland, and consists of numerous small islands and two large ones: Unguja , and Pemba...
and arrived towards the end of 1700. While going ashore for provisions, Booth and Bowen were attacked by Arab troops and Booth was killed in the fighting. After the death of Booth, Bowen was voted by the crew to replace Booth as captain of the small fleet.
External links
- The Pirate Cove! - George Booth
- Brief biography of George Booth by Julien Durup
- Account of George Booth's life by V'léOnica Roberts