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Ireland Anne Bonney was an Irish American pirate who navigated the challenges of 18th-century maritime life, becoming a notable figure in historical accounts of piracy.
Discover the story behind pirate Calico Jack and his infamous lovers, Anne Bonny and Mary Read that gave the names to our Phinisi yachts.
Firm friends and fierce fighters, Anne Bonny and Mary Read were some of the most infamous pirates of the 18th century.
Set sail on a taste adventure with Anne Bonny Rum! Channel the fearless spirit of the legendary pirate Anne Bonny with every sip of this extraordinary rum.
He says that there is a particular pirate in that area, and while he may be a savage, even savages need partners. Jack says he would bring her along but she...
Information regarding Anne Bonny's historical context and her involvement as a notorious woman in piracy.
Anne Bonney was born around 1698, near Cork, Ireland. Her early life is largely based on speculative accounts, primarily from “A General History of the Robberies and Murders of the Most Notorious Pyrates” (1724) by Captain Charles Johnson. This source suggests she was the illegitimate daughter of lawyer William Cormac and a maid in his household. Following the discovery of his infidelity, Cormac moved with Anne and her mother to Charles Towne (now Charleston), South Carolina, where he established himself as a successful merchant and plantation owner. Anne’s mother passed away when Anne was approximately 13 years old. Her father intended her to marry a local man, but Anne resisted this arrangement.
In 1718, Anne married John Bonny, a sailor, and they relocated to New Providence in the Bahamas, a known pirate sanctuary. John Bonny subsequently became an informant for the Bahamian governor, Woodes Rogers. Anne became involved with pirate John (“Calico Jack”) Rackham. When her husband refused a divorce, Anne left him. In August 1720, Anne Bonney joined Rackham and his crew, including Mary Read, in pirating merchant vessels off the coast of Jamaica. She actively participated in raids, often disguised as a man, and was noted for her fierce disposition in combat.
On November 15, 1720, their vessel was captured by privateer Captain Jonathan Barnet near Negril Point, Jamaica. Following their capture, Rackham and the male crew members were found guilty of piracy and executed. Anne Bonney and Mary Read were also found guilty and sentenced to death on November 28, 1720. However, they successfully “pleaded the belly,” claiming pregnancy, which resulted in a stay of execution. Mary Read died in prison the following year. The fate of Anne Bonney remains uncertain, with some accounts suggesting she was released, possibly due to her father’s influence, and returned to Charles Towne, where she lived to an old age. A burial record for an “Ann Bonny” in Saint Catherine’s Parish on December 29, 1733, suggests a potentially quieter end to her life in Jamaica.
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