William Kidd

Lore & Background

William Kidd was born in Dundee, Scotland prior to 15 October 1645. He said himself he came from Dundee in a testimony given to the High Court of Admiralty in 1695. As a young man, Kidd settled in New York City, which the English had taken over from the Dutch. There he befriended many prominent colonial citizens, including three governors. By 1689, Kidd was a member of a French–English pirate crew sailing the Caribbean under Captain Jean Fantin. During one of their voyages, Kidd and other crew members mutinied, ousting the captain and sailing to the British colony of Nevis. There they renamed the ship Blessed William, and Kidd became captain either as a result of election by the ship's crew, or by appointment of Christopher Codrington, governor of the island of Nevis. Kidd and his men attacked the French island of Marie-Galante, destroying its only town and looting the area, and gathering around 2,000 pounds sterling. Later, during the War of the Grand Alliance, on commissions from the provinces of New York and Massachusetts Bay, Kidd captured an enemy privateer off the New England coast. Shortly afterwards, he was awarded £150 for successful privateering in the Caribbean. One year later, Captain Robert Culliford, a notorious pirate, stole Kidd's ship while he was ashore at Antigua in the West Indies. In New York City, Kidd was active in financially supporting the construction of Trinity Church, New York. On 16 May 1691, Kidd married Sarah Bradley Cox Oort, who was still in her early twenties. She had already been twice widowed and was one of the wealthiest women in New York, based on an inheritance from her first husband.

In Their Own Story

On 11 December 1695, Richard Coote, 1st Earl of Bellomont, who was governing New York, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire, asked the 'trusty and well beloved Captain Kidd' to attack Thomas Tew, John Ireland, Thomas Wake, William Maze, and all others who associated themselves with pirates, along with any enemy French ships. Four-fifths of the cost for the 1696 venture was paid by peers of the realm: the Earl of Orford, the Baron of Romney, the Duke of Shrewsbury, and Sir John Somers. Kidd was presented with a letter of marque, signed personally by King William III of England, which authorised him as a privateer. This letter reserved 10% of the loot for the Crown. The new ship, Adventure Galley, was well suited to the task of catching pirates, weighing over 284 tons burthen and equipped with 34 cannon, oars, and 150 men. As the Adventure Galley sailed down the Thames, Kidd unaccountably failed to salute a Navy yacht at Greenwich, as custom dictated. The Navy yacht then fired a shot to make him show respect, and Kidd's crew responded by turning and slapping their backsides in disdain. Because of Kidd's refusal to salute, the Navy vessel's captain retaliated by pressing much of Kidd's crew into naval service. Short-handed, Kidd sailed for New York City, capturing a French vessel en route. To make up for the lack of officers, Kidd picked up replacement crew in New York, the vast majority of whom were known and hardened criminals, some likely former pirates. In September 1696, Kidd weighed anchor and set course for the Cape of Good Hope in southern Africa. A third of his crew died on the Comoros due to an outbreak of cholera, the brand-new ship developed many leaks, and he failed to find the pirates whom he expected to encounter off Madagascar. Kidd killed one of his own crewmen on 30 October 1697. Kidd's gunner William Moore was on deck sharpening a chisel when a Dutch ship appeared. Moore urged Kidd to attack the Dutchman, an act that would have been considered piratical. Kidd refused, calling Moore a lousy dog. Moore retorted, 'If I am a lousy dog, you have made me so; you have brought me to ruin and many more.' Kidd reportedly dropped an ironbound bucket on Moore, fracturing his skull. Moore died the following day. On 30 January 1698, Kidd raised French colours and took his greatest prize, the 400-ton Quedagh Merchant, an Indian ship hired by Armenian merchants. It was loaded with satins, muslins, gold, silver, and a variety of East Indian merchandise. Kidd was found guilty and hanged in 1701.

Reader's Guide

William Kidd was romanticised after his death and his exploits became a popular subject of pirate-themed works of fiction. The belief that he had left buried treasure contributed significantly to his legend, which inspired numerous treasure hunts in the following centuries. His story illustrates the perilous nature of privateering, where even those who seek to uphold the law can become outcasts if they touch cursed artifacts. Kidd's transformation highlights the specific rules regarding the Flying Dutchman: once a soul accepts the Captain's coin or service, their physical form perishes, but their consciousness is bound to the ship. This curse ensures that the crew remains immortal yet trapped in a cycle of endless labor and torment. Historically, Kidd represents the thin line between privateer and pirate, a theme central to the franchise. His fate warns that the sea does not distinguish between those who sail with a commission or without; it only cares for those willing to pay the price of their desires.

Did You Know?

• William Kidd was born in Dundee, Scotland prior to 15 October 1645, and he said himself he came from Dundee in a testimony given to the High Court of Admiralty in 1695.
• Kidd married Sarah Bradley Cox Oort on 16 May 1691; she was still in her early twenties, had already been twice widowed, and was one of the wealthiest women in New York.
• On 30 October 1697, Kidd killed his gunner William Moore by dropping an ironbound bucket on his head, fracturing his skull, after Moore urged him to attack a Dutch ship.
• Kidd's greatest prize was the 400-ton Quedagh Merchant, captured on 30 January 1698, loaded with satins, muslins, gold, silver, and a variety of East Indian merchandise.
• Kidd was found guilty and hanged in 1701, and the belief that he had left buried treasure contributed significantly to his legend, inspiring numerous treasure hunts in the following centuries.