Robert_Sample
Robert Sample (died 1719, first name occasionally Richard, last name occasionally Semple) was a pirate active off the coast of Africa and in the Caribbean. He is best known for sailing with Edward England.
Robert Sample | |
|---|---|
| Died | 1719 |
| Occupation | Pirate |
| Known for | Sailing with Edward England |
| Piratical career | |
| Other names | Richard |
| Base of operations | Coast of Africa and in the Caribbean |
| Commands | Flying King |
In late 1718 Edward England, aboard his ship Royal James (renamed from the recently captured Pearl) had been looting ships between Cape Verde and the Azores.[1] He took a number of ships off Cape Coast Castle near Gambia in spring of 1719.[2] Several he plundered and let go, a few he burned, but he refitted two for piracy.[1] One of them was the 6-gun, 14-man Elizabeth and Katherine, commanded by Captain Bridge out of Barbados, which he captured on 27 June.[3] Four of the Elizabeth and Katherine's crew joined England's pirates. England refitted and crewed the Elizabeth and Katherine and renamed it Flying King, naming Richard Sample as captain.[3]
Sample sailed with Robert Lane, who captained England's other refitted vessel. They looted several ships in the Caribbean then stopped to careen their vessels.[2] In November they sailed toward Brazil "and did a great deal of mischief" among Portuguese shipping.[2] A Portuguese man-of-war ("a very unwelcome guest to them") chased them soon after.[2] Lane escaped, but he and his crew died when their ship was lost offshore. Sample was unable to evade the warship and tried to escape by beaching the Flying King.[4] Twelve of its crew had been killed; the Portuguese captured the rest, hanging 38, almost all of whom were English.[2]
- Pirate Code, the "articles" signed by the Elizabeth and Katherine's men when they joined England's pirate crew
- Grey, Charles (1933). Pirates of the eastern seas (1618-1723): a lurid page of history. London: S. Low, Marston & co., ltd. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
- Johnson, Captain Charles (1724). A GENERAL HISTORY OF THE PYRATES. London: T. Warner. Retrieved 18 June 2017.
- Seitz, Don Carlos (1925). Under the Black Flag: Exploits of the Most Notorious Pirates. New York: Dial Press. p. 167. ISBN 9780486421315.
- Gosse, Philip (1924). The Pirates' Who's Who by Philip Gosse. New York: Burt Franklin. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
