buccaneer

Table of Contents

Introduction References & Edit History Related Topics

Images & Videos

William Dampier

Sir Francis Drake: Admiral, pirate, and explorer

Morgan, Sir Henry

For Students

buccaneer summary

Read Next

Portrait of Edward Teach, known as Blackbeard, image taken from A General History of the Pyrates, 1725; illustration by B. Cole. (pirates)

Pirates, Privateers, Corsairs, Buccaneers: What’s the Difference?

A human Inuit skull in a stone chambered cairn in Ilulissat in Greenland. These ancient graves are pre christian and are at least 2000

14 Tough Questions Answered

ripped torn flag, pirate, skull

Are There Laws on the High Seas?

"Pirate Week" Spotlight.

Pirate lass and her booty. A suspicious costumed 17th century styled female pirate guards a treasure chest. Trunk full of stolen jewels and gold coins. tricornered hat steal greed

Swashbuckling Sisters: 6 Lady Pirates

Discover

Panoramic view of moai, Ahu Tongariki, Easter Island (Rapa Nui), Chile

8 of the World’s Most-Remote Islands

Periodical Cicada, Adult, Magicicada spp. Requires 17 years to complete development. Nymph splits its skin, and transforms into an adult. Feeds on sap of tree roots. Northern Illinois Brood. This brood is the largest emergence of cicadas anywhere

Why Do Some Cicadas Appear Only Every 17 Years?

American bison (Bison bison) also known as buffalo or plains buffalo on the prairie, western U.S.

What’s the Difference Between Bison and Buffalo?

Clouds of smoke rise from fires at the World Trade Center Towers as a result of terrorist attack on September 11, 2001. Photographed 9:54 am in Lower Manhattan.

Timeline of the September 11 Attacks

Illustration for Demystified "How Dangerous is Quicksand"

How Deadly Is Quicksand?

Turtle, tortoise, reptile. Uses assets 88582 & 89606

What’s the Difference Between a Turtle and a Tortoise?

illustration of the walking titanosaurus, Patagotitan mayorum

Titanosaurs: 8 of the World's Biggest Dinosaurs

buccaneer: Related Content

Written and fact-checked by The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Photos and Videos

William Dampier

Morgan, Sir Henry

Sir Francis Drake: Admiral, pirate, and explorer

See All Videos and Images →

Topics

piracy naval warfare privateer warship submarine letter of marque amphibious warfare sea power visit and search galley warfare continuous voyage

Key People

Dampier

William Dampier

British explorer

Henry Morgan, detail of an engraving by an unknown artist

Sir Henry Morgan

Welsh buccaneer

Selkirk, Alexander

Alexander Selkirk

Scottish sailor

Louis Granmont

French buccaneer

Quiz

Old medieval wooden pirate military war ship with a cannon on the deck pointed out and aiming

Spot the Difference: Pirates, Privateers, Corsairs, and Buccaneers

Demystified

Portrait of Edward Teach, known as Blackbeard, image taken from A General History of the Pyrates, 1725; illustration by B. Cole. (pirates)

Pirates, Privateers, Corsairs, Buccaneers: What’s the Difference?