September 7th, 1714

War of the Spanish Succession ; March 1701–September 7, 1714 

When the war ended thousands of "privateer" merchant sailors suddenly became unemployeed when England no longer needed them to wage war against the Spanish in Caribbean.

Left with little options the sailors turned to piracy to sustain themselves.

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The War of the Spanish Succession (1701-1714) was a European conflict stemming from the death of the childless Charles II of Spain, who had no heir, leading to a struggle for control of the Spanish Empire between the French Bourbons and the Austrian Habsburgs. 

England, the Dutch Republic, and the Holy Roman Empire formed the Grand Alliance to prevent the union of the French and Spanish thrones, supporting the claim of Archduke Charles of Austria (another Habsburg) to the Spanish throne.

The war concluded with the Treaties of Utrecht (1713), Rastatt, and Baden (1714), which recognized Philip of Anjou as King Philip V of Spain, but he had to renounce his claim to the French throne.