Camp Gagnon Podcast: "What Were the Horrifying Things Blackbeard Did to His Enemies"

Host: Mark Gagnon
Guests: David, Christos Pakabos
Date: November 26, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of Camp Gagnon's "History Camp" dives deep into the notorious pirate Blackbeard, legendary for his short but impactful reign over the seas. Host Mark Gagnon, accompanied by David and Christos, explores the myths, realities, and horrifying tactics that cemented Blackbeard’s place in pirate lore. The conversation moves from historical fact and sensational legend to modern parallels with outlaws and pop culture.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Who Was Blackbeard? Origins and Mystique

• Name & Origins:
  • Likely born around 1680, probably in Bristol, England (04:26).
  • Real name probably Edward Teach or Thatch, with numerous spellings and aliases—pirates often hid their real names to protect their families.
• Source Issues:
  • Most of what we know comes from "A General History of the Pirates" (1724) by Captain Charles Johnson—an author possibly aliasing for Daniel Defoe ("Robinson Crusoe"). Historic facts are interwoven with legend and hearsay (03:30).
• Literacy:
  • Some think Blackbeard may have been educated, which was uncommon among pirates.

"The most famous pirate in history, and we don't really know anything about his early life and we don't even really know what to call him. So thus, we will stick with Blackbeard."
— Mark Gagnon (05:53)

2. Transition from Privateer to Pirate

• Privateering During Queen Anne's War:
  • Blackbeard started as a privateer, a government-sanctioned pirate, before the end of Queen Anne’s War in 1713 (08:13).
  • After the war, many privateers became pirates—they already had the skills and ships, and piracy was more lucrative.
• Joining Hornigold:
  • In 1716, Blackbeard joined Captain Benjamin Hornigold (13:04).
  • Hornigold refused to attack English ships, which led to crew frustration and his eventual ousting. Blackbeard took over the fleet.

3. Pirate Partners and Intrigue

• Stede Bonnet:
  • Wealthy landowner turned rookie pirate after a midlife crisis ("instead of buying a Corvette, he bought a ship" – 13:19).
  • Blackbeard recognized Bonnet’s incompetence and took over his ship.
• King's Pardon:
  • The British Crown offered pirates a pardon if they quit, leading to betrayals and shifting allegiances. Hornigold took the pardon and became a pirate hunter, targeting his former allies (15:38).

4. Rise to Infamy: The Queen Anne’s Revenge

• Capturing the La Concorde:
  • Blackbeard’s big move was taking the French slave ship La Concorde, turning it into Queen Anne’s Revenge (17:39).
  • The ship was retrofitted with up to 40 cannons, making it a terror on the seas.
• Psychological Warfare:
  • Blackbeard rarely killed; his reputation, appearance, and theatrics (including lighting fuses in his beard to appear monstrous) made ships surrender without a fight (21:13).
  • "He would wear these leather straps, cross his chest loaded with pistols. He had six of them just like strapped in John Wick style...before combat, he would actually light slow burning hemp fuses and then weave them into his beard..." (21:13-21:56)
• Crew Enforcement:
  • Kept authority by unpredictability—shot his first mate in the knee to maintain fear ("If I don't shoot one of you every now and then, you'll forget who I am." — attributed to Blackbeard, 22:36).

5. The Charleston Blockade & Terrifying Tactics

• Hostage Crisis:
  • Blackbeard blockaded Charleston’s harbor for a week, seizing nine ships and taking hostages, demanding only medicine for syphilis and scurvy, not riches (23:30).
  • Allowed hostages to leave unharmed once his (rather humble) demand was met — showing his method was intimidation over brutality.

"The most feared pirate in the world literally just wanted, like, antibiotics."
— Mark Gagnon (23:58)

6. The Mysterious Loss of Queen Anne’s Revenge

• Grounding the Fleet:
  • Mysteriously ran aground, seemingly by accident (25:30). Many historians believe Blackbeard did it intentionally to downsize his crew, keep more loot, and become more mobile.
• Aftermath:
  • Abandoned much of his crew, took loyalists and treasure on smaller ships, and vanished.
  • Modern discovery: The real Queen Anne’s Revenge was found in 1996, with a trove of pirate artifacts (27:37).

7. Decline, Betrayal, and Death

• Betrayals:
  • Blackbeard betrayed Bonnet, absconding with valuables while Bonnet pursued a royal pardon (29:36).
• Retirement in North Carolina:
  • Blackbeard "retired" in Bath, NC, accepted the king’s pardon, and established relations with the governor.
  • Secretly continued smuggling and piracy under government protection (31:13).
• Governor Spotswood's Retribution:
  • Virginia’s Governor Alexander Spotswood sent Lieutenant Robert Maynard to eliminate Blackbeard in coastal North Carolina.
• Blackbeard’s Brutal End:
  • In a savage six-minute battle, Blackbeard was shot five times, cut 20+ times before dying (34:40).
  • His beheaded corpse allegedly swam around the ship, fueling supernatural rumors.

8. The Myths That Live On

• Wives, Lost Treasure, and the Silver Cup:
  • Legends say Blackbeard had up to 14 wives, a hidden treasure (location known only to himself and "the devil"), and that his head became a silver-lined drinking cup (36:06).
• The Pirate Flag:
  • The iconic horned skeleton flag is a later invention; contemporary records suggest he used a classic skull & crossbones or solid red flag (37:24).
• Legacy:
  • Blackbeard’s notoriety stemmed from branding and perfect timing—he became an anti-hero and symbol of an era, with his tale only growing over the centuries (38:00).

"He was probably one of the first people to understand this power of personal branding when it came to executing a military operation."
— Mark Gagnon (38:30)

9. Pirates, Pop Culture, and Romanticized Outlaws

• Modern Comparisons:
  • The crew draws parallels to Rasputin, Jack the Ripper, cowboys, and even contemporary rap figures like Tay K—figures whose legend and myth outstrip the historic reality (43:02, 43:56).

"I think rappers, the ones that are actually living their raps, I think are the modern day version of cowboys and pirates."
— Mark Gagnon (44:50)

• Critique of Pirate Glorification:
  • The hypocrisy of idolizing historical pirates and condemning modern piracy (Somali pirates, cartel smugglers) is discussed humorously and critically (45:44).

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Blackbeard’s Branding:
  "He's kind of like the Tekashi 69ine of his day… people still revere him as one of the most fearsome tattooed bandits of the land."
  — Mark Gagnon (03:48)

• On Pirate Psychology:
  "Blackbeard understood that looking terrifying was more effective than actually being a killer."
  — Mark Gagnon (21:20)

• On Methods of Violence:
  "If I don't shoot one of you every now and then, you'll forget who I am."
  — Attributed to Blackbeard (22:36)

• On the Legacy of Pirates:
  "He became sort of this symbol, or almost like an anti-hero of the era… dying in battle instead of being hung."
  — Mark Gagnon (38:30)

• Modern Parallels:
  "Kids will dress up as pirates now…they were literally like robbing, [raping], and terrorizing innocent people…but then kids will be like, I want to be a pirate."
  — Mark Gagnon (41:16)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Start of Blackbeard lore: 00:00
• Discussion of historic sources and literacy: 04:10
• Rise as privateer and early piracy: 08:13
• Bonnet and pirate politics: 13:19
• Queen Anne’s Revenge & reputation: 17:39
• Blockade of Charleston: 23:30
• Grounding of Queen Anne’s Revenge: 25:30
• Discovery of the wreck: 27:37
• Double-crossing Bonnet: 29:36
• Blackbeard's "retirement" in Bath, NC: 31:13
• Final battle and death: 34:40
• Legends and myths: 36:06–38:00
• Modern parallels/cultural analysis: 41:00–47:56

Tone and Closing Thoughts

The episode is irreverent, lively, and steeped in Mark Gagnon’s comedic sensibility. The hosts balance historical myth-busting with appreciation for the legend, always returning to the core question: why do we romanticize pirates—and what does that say about us now?

"Honestly, I mean, that just might be the most fitting end for a pirate ever."
— Mark Gagnon (38:00)

If you have more details or want to add to the legend of Blackbeard, Mark encourages comments and engagement from fans and history buffs alike.