National Geographic’s documentary series Pirates: Behind the Legends sets sail with its second new episode of the evening with “Blackbeard,” airing on Saturday, June 22, 2024. The episode explores the life and legend of Edward Teach, the infamous pirate known as Blackbeard, who struck fear into the hearts of those along the West Indies and North America’s eastern coast.
The episode explores the mysterious early life of Blackbeard, believed to have been born in Bristol, England, around 1680. It examines his transformation from a young sailor to a privateer during the War of the Spanish Succession, and his eventual turn to piracy under Captain Benjamin Hornigold. Blackbeard’s bold personality, combined with his fearsome appearance—a thick, braided beard, swords, knives, and lit fuses in his hair—cemented his reputation as a cruel and fierce pirate.
“Blackbeard” recounts his capture of the French slave ship La Concorde, which he renamed Queen Anne’s Revenge, and his alliance with pirates like Stede Bonnet. Blackbeard blockaded Charles Town, now Charleston, South Carolina, and ransomed its inhabitants.
He then established a base at Ocracoke Island, North Carolina, bribing the local governor, Charles Eden, for a pardon. However, his brazen acts drew the attention of Virginia’s governor, Alexander Spotswood, who sent a force led by Lieutenant Robert Maynard to capture him. The episode culminates in the fierce battle that resulted in Blackbeard’s death on November 22, 1718.
Blackbeard’s legacy continues to capture the imagination of audiences worldwide, inspiring books, films, and amusement park rides. His larger-than-life persona has become an enduring staple of pirate folklore.
Pirates: Behind the Legends: Blackbeard airs on Saturday, June 22, 2024, on National Geographic.
