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Blackbeard's Real Background
- Blackbeard was likely Edward Teach from Bristol, born around 1680 and from a maritime, middle-class family.
- He was literate and had the skills and social standing typical of pirate captains of the era.
Privateering Fueled Piracy
- Blackbeard began as a privateer in the Royal Navy during the War of the Spanish Succession before turning to piracy.
- Privateering gave sailors combat experience and legal cover that later made the shift to piracy easy after the war.
Queen Anne's Revenge Made His Name
- Blackbeard captured the French ship Le Concord and renamed it Queen Anne's Revenge, which became his powerful flagship.
- That large, recently built ship transformed him into a major pirate leader.