(Un) Known pirates and criminals of the seas
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James Langton *1550?? - +?? English captain and pirate.

In his young age he sailed as a sailor on the lord Cumberland's ships.

In 1585, James joined the Francis Drake´s fleet. The Queen funded and commissioned Drake to command a penal mission to Spain. The aim was to free the captured English grain ships and to pillage as many Spanish towns as possible. On the way, he learned that the captured ships had already been released. That is why he changed the plan and sailed to the Caribbean to very rich Santa Domingo, which was the capital of Spanish domination in Central America December 31st, 1585, the city was easily conquered from the land because the Spaniards defended the harbour only from the sea.

The following day, the English cruelly pillaged the town, taken a rich ransom from the people and fired it. And then Saint Augustine was pillaged as well. After, on 10th June 1586, they landed at the Roanoke Island, which was the first English colony in North America. From here, at the request of the local governor, the English settlers were moved back to England. On July 27th, 1586, with a great glory, they landed in Portsmouth.

In 1588, he participated on the successful defending of the Spanish Felicissima Armada (Invincible Armada, Grand Armada). See don Alonso Pérez de Guzmán y de Zúñiga-Sotomayor, en el Palacio de Medina-Sidonia.

At the beginning of 1593, a fleet of three ships was sent by the Count of Cumberland from Plymouth. The ANTHONY flagship of the captain and commander James Langton, the PILGRIM of the captain Francis Slingsby and the little DISCOVERY. In August, they added supplies at Saint Lucia and Martinique, and then plundered Margarita and the coast of Venezuela. They captured nine ships and got a rich prey. Over the next seven months, they were looting Spanish ships and settlements, including the Hispaniola blockade. In February 1594 he defeated two Spanish galleons, captured one of them and added it to his fleet. The PILGRIM was sent with prey to England.

16^th March 1594, Langton entered the Puerto Cabello with his fleet under a fake flag. After a three-day battle, he got a rich prey of seven ships under the command of Admiral Diego Ramirez, including his flagship SAN DIEGO. On 25^th May 1594, with a great glory, he returned with huge prey to England. He shared it with Earl from Cumberland, who later financed other pirate expeditions from the prey. Captain James Langton became an extremely wealthy citizen.

Jean Lenoir *?? - +1594. French captain and pirate.

He operated around the Iberian peninsula. He pillaged Portuguese and Spanish ships.

In 1594, following a meeting with James Lancaster, he joined the Anglo-Dutch group of ships under the command of the captain Henry Middleton and together they plundered Brazilian Recife. He was killed in an attack on the coastal fortifications.

John Lambert *1660?? - +30.6.1704. An English officer and a pirate, he acted in the Caribbean. He was a member of the captain Daniel Plowman crew of the corsair ship CHARLES.

CHARLES sailed from Boston in July 1703 to a corsair expedition against the French and Spanish ships. Shortly after the departure, the captain Daniel Plowman became ill and because of his quarantine he stayed in his cabin. The crew, led by quartermaster Anthony Holding, however, rebelled and chose Lieutenant John Quelch as their captain. At the end of September, Captain Daniel Plowman died of fever.

Later, on the shores of Brazil, they pillaged nine Portuguese ships and they received valuable cargo of weapons, skins, sugar, cloths, boxes of gold dust and money. At that time, however, an alliance was made between Portugal and England. Therefore, the English Admiralty, following a report from Portugal about the looting of their ships, issued an arrest warrant for the whole crew. In May 1704, the CHARLES ship landed in Marblehead today in the state of Massachusetts where unsuspecting crew broke away with their share of prey. Within a week, most of the crew, including John Lambert, were caught and imprisoned.

At the beginning of June, he was brought to Boston for trial. On the basis of testimony of crew members, John Lambert was found guilty and sentenced to death by hanging. The execution was made on Friday 30th June, 1704. The execution was secured by the Musketeers Regiment. There were also several Admiralty officials, court officers, two ministers, and several monks.

This was the first example of an execution by law in America.

Richard Lawrence *1670?? - +1710?? The English pirate acted in the Caribbean. He was a member of the captain Daniel Plowman crew of the corsair ship CHARLES.

CHARLES sailed from Boston in July 1703 to a corsair expedition against the French and Spanish ships. Shortly after the departure, the captain Daniel Plowman became ill and because of his quarantine he stayed in his cabin. The crew, led by quartermaster Anthony Holding, however, rebelled and chose Lieutenant John Quelch as their captain. At the end of September, Captain Daniel Plowman died of fever.

Later, on the shores of Brazil, they pillaged nine Portuguese ships and they received valuable cargo of weapons, skins, sugar, cloths, boxes of gold dust and money. At that time, however, an alliance was made between Portugal and England. Therefore, the English Admiralty, following a report from Portugal about the looting of their ships, issued an arrest warrant for the whole crew. In May 1704, the CHARLES ship landed in Marblehead today in the state of Massachusetts where unsuspecting crew broke away with their share of prey. Within a week, most of the crew, including Richard Lawrence, were caught and imprisoned.

At the beginning of June, he was brought to Boston for trial. On the basis of testimony of crew members, Richard Lawrence was found guilty and sentenced to several years in prison.

Nicholas Lawson *1670?? - +1710?? The English pirate acted in the Caribbean. He was a member of the captain Daniel Plowman crew of the corsair ship CHARLES.

CHARLES sailed from Boston in July 1703 to a corsair expedition against the French and Spanish ships. Shortly after the departure, the captain Daniel Plowman became ill and because of his quarantine he stayed in his cabin. The crew, led by quartermaster Anthony Holding, however, rebelled and chose Lieutenant John Quelch as their captain. At the end of September, Captain Daniel Plowman died of fever.

Later, on the shores of Brazil, they pillaged nine Portuguese ships and they received valuable cargo of weapons, skins, sugar, cloths, boxes of gold dust and money. At that time, however, an alliance was made between Portugal and England. Therefore, the English Admiralty, following a report from Portugal about the looting of their ships, issued an arrest warrant for the whole crew. In May 1704, the CHARLES ship landed in Marblehead today in the state of Massachusetts where unsuspecting crew broke away with their share of prey. Within a week, most of the crew, including Nicholas Lawsoin were caught and imprisoned.

At the beginning of June, he was brought to Boston for trial. On the basis of testimony of crew members, Nicholas Lawsoin was found guilty and sentenced to several years in prison.

Gabriel Loffe *?? - +1720?? Swedish pirate. He sailed on Captain William Kidd's ship the ADVENTURE PRIZE in the Caribbean and the Indian Ocean.

He moved from the MOCHA frigate to Kidd's ship ADVENTURE GALLEY in April 1698 at Madagascar. He was a loyal member of the crew. The other known members of the crew were: Richard Barleycorn, Robert Bradinham, Hendrick van der Heul, William Jenkins, Robert Lamley, Gabriel Loffe, William Moore (who was killed by W. Kidd during a revolt on October 30th, 1669), Able Owens, Joseph Palmer and Hugh Parrot. The all crew with William Kidd was arrested in Boston on July 6th, 1699. After a year of imprisonment, they were brought to court in England. Loffe also testified at the court about the meeting of William Kidd with Robert Culiford at Madagascar in 1698. He was sentenced to death by hanging, but then he was pardoned.

Robert Lamley *1684 - +1750?? English Pirate. He sailed on Captain William Kidd´s the ADVENTURE GALLEY in the Caribbean and the Indian Ocean.

When he was twelve years old he was taught as a boy/sailor by Able Owens. He was a loyal member of the crew. The other known members of the crew were: Richard Barleycorn, Robert Bradinham, Hendrick van der Heul, William Jenkins, Gabriel Loffe, William Moore (who was killed by W. Kidd during a revolt on October 30th, 1669), Able Owens, Joseph Palmer and Hugh Parrot. The all crew with William Kidd was arrested in Boston on July 6th, 1699. After a year of imprisonment, they were brought to court in England. Lamley also testified at the court about the rebellion on October 30th, 1697. He was sentenced to death by hanging, but then he was pardoned.

Texts: P. Patočka, P. Steinhardt, H. Prien
Proofreading: Ali
Translation: S. Harasimová
Graphic design: M. Gorejová
Updated: September 24, 2020
Sources: see ZDROJE