'Captain Teach commonly call'd Black Beard', 1734 (engraving)

Creator: Joseph Nicholls; Isaac Basire Edward Thatch, or Teach, was born circa 1680 and died on 22 November, 1718, better known as Blackbeard. He was a notorious English pirate in the Caribbean and western Atlantic during the early 18th century. His best known vessel was the Queen Anne's Revenge, which is believed to have run aground near Beaufort Inlet, North Carolina in 1718. Blackbeard often fought, or simply showed himself, wearing a big feathered tricorn, and having multiple swords, knives, and pistols at his disposal. It was reported in 'A General Historie of the Robberies and Murders of the Most Notorious Pyrates' that he had hemp and lit matches woven into his enormous black beard during battle to intimidate his enemies. Blackbeard is often regarded as the archetypal image of the seafaring pirate.