letter of marque

Table of Contents

Introduction References & Edit History Related Topics

Images & Videos

Kidd, William; privateer

Sir Francis Drake: Admiral, pirate, and explorer

Sir Francis Drake

Sir Martin Frobisher

Morgan, Sir Henry

Read Next

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

Battle of the Alamo from "Texas: An Epitome of Texas History from the Filibustering and Revolutionary Eras to the Independence of the Republic, 1897. Texas Revolution, Texas revolt, Texas independence, Texas history.

6 Wars of Independence

Iraqi Army Soldiers from the 9th Mechanized Division learning to operate and maintain M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tanks at Besmaya Combat Training Center, Baghdad, Iraq, 2011. Military training. Iraq war. U.S. Army

8 Deadliest Wars of the 21st Century

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?

Discover

Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519), Italian Renaissance painter from Florence. Engraving by Cosomo Colombini (d. 1812) after a Leonardo self portrait. Ca. 1500.

10 Famous Artworks by Leonardo da Vinci

Rural Irish landscape, Sligo, Ireland.

Why Is Ireland Two Countries?

An ancient egyptian hieroglyphic painted carving showing the falcon headed god Horus seated on a throne and holding a golden fly whisk. Before him are the Pharoah Seti and the goddess Isis. Interior wall of the temple to Osiris at Abydos, Egypt.

11 Egyptian Gods and Goddesses

Close up of books. Stack of books, pile of books, literature, reading. Homepage 2010, arts and entertainment, history and society

12 Novels Considered the “Greatest Book Ever Written”

Iraqi Army Soldiers from the 9th Mechanized Division learning to operate and maintain M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tanks at Besmaya Combat Training Center, Baghdad, Iraq, 2011. Military training. Iraq war. U.S. Army

8 Deadliest Wars of the 21st Century

New York NY/ USA- November 23, 2018 Hordes of shoppers throng the Macy's Herald Square flagship store in New York looking for bargains on the day after Thanksgiving, Black Friday.

Why Is It Called Black Friday?

Thumbnail for flags that look alike quiz Russia, Slovenia, Iceland, Norway

Flags That Look Alike

letter of marque: Media

government commission

Videos

Sir Francis Drake: Admiral, pirate, and explorer

Sir Francis Drake: Admiral, pirate, and explorer

Overview of Sir Francis Drake's life.

Video: Contunico © ZDF Studios GmbH, Mainz; Thumbnail © Bob Suir/Dreamstime.com

Images

Kidd, William; privateer

Kidd, William; privateer

British privateer William Kidd.

© Everett Historical/Shutterstock.com

Sir Francis Drake

Sir Francis Drake

Sir Francis Drake, oil on panel, after an engraving attributed to Jodocus Hondius,...

© C. Bevilacqua—DeA Picture Library/age fotostock

Sir Martin Frobisher

Sir Martin Frobisher

Sir Martin Frobisher.

The New York Public Library Digital Collection (EM14618)

Morgan, Sir Henry

Morgan, Sir Henry

Sir Henry Morgan.

Photos.com/Thinkstock

VIEW MORE in these related Britannica articles: