On November 24th in 1718, ‘Calico Jack’ Rackham branded Charles Vane a coward and led a mutiny to depose him as captain. Charles Vane and his crew had left Ocracoke, NC in mid-October, unsuccessful in attempting to recruit Blackbeard to join them in an attempt to retake New Providence from Woodes Rogers and re-establish their pirate republic.
Upon their return to the Caribbean and the Bahamas, they had successfully raided the island of Eleuthera. Inhabited mostly by families, the attack was a swift and complete success, with the pirates pillaging as much liquor and livestock as they could carry away.
Over the next month, historian Colin Woodard states that the pirates “lived riotously onboard, drinking heavily and gorging on freshly slaughtered animals.” While they were busy living to excess, they failed to capture a single prize for almost a month. Their merry revelry soon turned sour.
On the 23rd, Vane’s lookouts spotted a frigate downwind of their position and ordered his brigantine and sloop to bear down on it. As he closed in, he raised the black flag up the mainmast, expecting the ship to surrender.
Instead, the ship hoisted its own colors: a white flag with gold fleur-de-lis. No sooner than Vane realized he was chasing down a French navy vessel, it opened its gun ports and delivered a devastating broadside.
Outgunned, Vane gave the order to turn around and run. The French ship trimmed its sails and gave chase. The majority of the crew, believing that they could close and board the French man-of-war, were furious with the decision but had to abide. Vane, as captain, had absolute power “while fighting, chasing, or being chased.”
The next day the pirates were out of danger and Jack Rackham called a meeting of the ships company in an effort to challenge Vane’s rule. Although a small contingent agreed with Vane, the vast majority voted in favor of deposing him as captain in favor of Rackham.
Vane and his supporters were put aboard the consort sloop with some provisions and ammunition. Rackham, now captain, sailed away toward Jamaica.
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