John Julian (c. 1701—March 26, 1733) was a pirate of multi-racial descent[1] who operated in Americans, as the pilot of the ship Whydah.

John Julian
Bornc.1701 (1701)
likely Nicaragua
DiedMarch 22, 1733 (1733-03-23) (aged 31)
Piratical career
TypePirate
Allegiance"Black Sam" Bellamy
Years active1716 – April 26, 1717
Rankpilot of the Whydah Gally

Julian joined pirate Samuel Bellamy, and became the pilot of Bellamy's Whydah when he was probably only 16 years of age.[2]

In 1717, the Whydah shipwrecked, with Julian and a carpenter called Thomas Davis being the only known survivors.[3] He was captured, but not indicted, so he was probably sold as a slave.[citation needed] He may have been the "Julian the Indian" bought by John Quincy, great grandfather of president John Quincy Adams.[1]

"Julian the Indian" reportedly made multiple attempts to flee and once killed a bounty hunter who was after him.[1] He was executed in March 1733.[3]

Newspaper item about execution of "Julian the Indian" (The Weekly Rehearsal, Boston, March 1733)

Further reading

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  • W. Jeffrey Bolster - Black Jacks: African American Seamen in the Age of Sail.
  • Kuhn, Gabriel (2010). Life Under the Jolly Roger: Reflections on Golden Age Piracy. PM Press. ISBN 9781604860528.

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Only free at sea". Pirates of the Wydah. National Geographic. Archived from the original on 3 June 2004.
  2. ^ "Life aboard the Whydah: A Motley Crew". "Real Pirates" museum exhibit website. Chicago, Illinois: The Field Museum. 2009. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
  3. ^ a b Nelson, Laura. "John Julian - The Teenage Pirate" at Pirates and Privateers