Edward Teach
Active: 1716–1718
The legend himself: Blackbeard. He ran one of the most feared ships of pirate history: The Queen Anne’s Revenge. Every time he stepped onto another ship to battle, he came dressed in all black, with a massive black hat, pistols strapped to his chest, and slow burning fuses in his hair and beard. He was eventually captured by two Royal Navy ships. His head was cut off as proof of his capture and his body was thrown overboard. Legend has it that his body swam around the vessel three times before sinking into a watery grave.