Some called him Tache or Thatch. But no one knows exactly where the man named Edward Teach called home. Some say he hailed from Jamaica or even from the Carolinas. It is even stated that Bristol, England was his home port.

Having honed his skills as a sailor and privateer during the war of Spanish Succession {1702-1713}, he would not remain an "honest and able seaman" for long.

In 1716, he sailed with Capt. Benjamin Hornigold and with Major Stede Bonnett, the only "Pirate" to purchase his own vessel and hire the crew. Together, they captured 11 ships from Cuba to the coast of New England.

Teach captured a French Slaver named "La Concorde", and set about arming her to the teeth with 40 guns, and renamed her "Queen Anne's Revenge". With this formidable vessel and support flotilla of four smaller craft, reigned in terror over the east coast and the Caribbean.

"Blackbeard" was born. Rather, the legend was born. With his sheer size and fierce visage, he struck fear even among his own crew.

On the early evening of November 21, 1718, Black Beard met his fate at Ocracoke Sound, N.C., where he ran the "Queen Anne's Revenge" aground, and fought it out with two British sloops under the command of Lt. Robert Maynard. Black Beard was shot 5 times, stabbed 20 times, beheaded, thrown overboard, and managed to swim around the sloop 13 times, or so says the Legend!