Kidd

William, a noted pirate. He was born at Greenock, Scotland, date unknown. He was known as a brave and adventurous shipmaster, sailing between British ports and the ports of the American colonies. Pirates infested the sea. The losses of ships and goods were enormous. The British government looked about for some one to put an end to these robberies on the high seas. In 1696 a royal commission was issued to "our trusty and well beloved Captain Kidd, commander of the ship Adventure Galley." His ship was well equipped and carried thirty guns and a strong crew armed to the teeth.

Kidd had no sooner set sail from Plymouth than it occurred to him to turn pirate himself. Finding his crew agreeable he cruised along the American coast for a time, then sailed for eastern Africa and the East Indies, frequenting the coast of Madagascar, where he continued a course of outrage and plunder for two years. In 1698 he returned to New York and buried a part of his treasure on Gardiner Island, near the eastern shore of Long Island. Supposing his career unknown, he anchored at Boston and swaggered through the streets after the manner of a man who proposes to have a good time for once. The English governor of Boston had an inkling of his misdeeds, however, and sent him to England in irons. In the absence of specific proof of piracy he was hanged on general principles. His deeds attracted attention. His fate aroused sympathy. A somewhat distorted account of his life took the form of a popular ballad, "My Name is Captain Kidd, as I sailed, as I sailed," etc. Governor Bellamont of Massachusetts caused the cache on Gardiner's Island to be opened. He secured 738 ounces of gold and 847 ounces of silver. This small amount did not satisfy the popular imagination. Fishermen about Long Island Sound and the mouth of Hudson River still cling to the idea that an immense treasure waits for the finder. Schoolboys steal away and dig for Captain Kidd's treasure. Edgar Allen Poe has made use of the Captain Kidd treasure trove in his story of the Gold Bug.