Biography of Captain William Kidd, Scottish Pirate

William Kidd (c. 1654–May 23, 1701) was a Scottish ship’s captain, privateer, and pirate. He started out on a voyage in 1696 as a pirate hunter and privateer, but he soon switched sides and had a brief but moderately successful career as a pirate. After he turned pirate, his wealthy backers back in England abandoned him. He was later convicted and hanged in England after a sensational trial. Fast Facts: William Kidd Known For: Kidd was a Scottish ships captain whose adventures led to his trial and execution for piracy.Also Known As: Captain KiddBorn: c. 1654 in Dundee, ScotlandDied: May 23, 1701 in Wapping, EnglandSpouse: Sarah Kidd (m. 1691-1701) Early Life Kidd was born in Scotland sometime around 1654, possibly near Dundee. He took to the sea and soon made a name for himself as a skilled, hardworking seaman. In 1689, sailing as a privateer, he took a French vessel: the ship was renamed the Blessed William and Kidd was put in command by the governor of Nevis. He sailed into New York just in time to save the governor there from a conspiracy. In New York, he married a wealthy widow. Not long after, in England, he became friends with the Lord of Bellomont, who was to be the new governor of New York. Setting Sail as a Privateer For the English, sailing was very dangerous at the time. England was at war with France and piracy was common. Lord Bellomont and some of his friends suggested Kidd be given a privateering contract that would allow him to attack pirates or French vessels. The suggestion was not accepted by the government, but Bellomont and his friends decided to set up Kidd as a privateer through a private enterprise: Kidd could attack French vessels or pirates but he had to share his earnings with the investors. Kidd was given the 34-gun Adventure Galley and he set sail in May 1696. Turning Pirate Kidd set sail for Madagascar and the Indian Ocean, then a hotbed of pirate activity. Nevertheless, he and his crew found very few pirate or French vessels to take. About a third of his crew died of disease, and the rest became surly because of the lack of prizes. In August 1697, Kidd attacked a convoy of Indian treasure ships  but was driven off by an East India Company Man of War. This was an act of piracy and clearly not in Kidd’s charter. Also, about this time, Kidd killed a mutinous gunner named William Moore by hitting him in the head with a heavy wooden bucket. The Pirates Take the Queddah Merchant On January 30, 1698, Kidds luck finally changed. He captured the Queddah Merchant, a treasure ship heading home from the Far East. It was not really fair game as a prize, though. It was a Moorish ship, with cargo owned by Armenians, and was captained by an Englishman named Wright. It was allegedly sailing with French papers. This was enough for Kidd, who sold off the cargo and divided the spoils with his men. The holds of the merchantman were bursting with a valuable cargo, and the haul for Kidd and his pirates was 15,000 British pounds, well over $2 million today). Kidd and his pirates were rich men. Kidd and Culliford Not long after, Kidd ran into a pirate ship captained by a notorious pirate named Culliford. What happened between the two men is unknown. According to Captain Charles Johnson, a contemporary historian, Kidd and Culliford greeted each other warmly and traded supplies and news. Many of Kidds men deserted him at this point, some running off with their share of the treasure and others joining Culliford. At his trial, Kidd claimed that he wasnt strong enough to fight Culliford and that most of his men abandoned him to join the pirates. He said he was allowed to keep the ships, but only after all the weapons and supplies were taken. In any event, Kidd swapped the leaking Adventure Galley for the fit Queddah Merchant and set sail for the Caribbean. Desertion by Friends and Backers Meanwhile, news of Kidd becoming a pirate had reached England. Bellomont and his wealthy friends, who were very important members of the government, began distancing themselves from the enterprise as quickly as they could. Robert Livingston, a friend and fellow Scotsman who knew the king personally, was deeply involved in Kidds affairs. Livingston turned on Kidd, trying desperately to keep secret his own name and those of the others involved. As for Bellomont, he put out a proclamation of amnesty for pirates, but Kidd and Henry Avery were specifically excluded from it. Some of Kidds former pirates would later accept this pardon and testify against him. Return to New York When Kidd reached the Caribbean, he learned he was now considered a pirate by the authorities. He decided to go to New York, where his friend Lord Bellomont could protect him until he was able to clear his name. He left his ship behind and captained a smaller ship to New York. As a precaution, he buried his treasure on Gardiners Island, off of Long Island. When he arrived in New York, he was arrested and Lord Bellomont refused to believe his stories of what had transpired. He divulged the location of his treasure on Gardiners Island and it was recovered. He spent a year in prison before being sent to England to face trial. Death Kidds trial took place on May 8, 1701. The trial caused a huge sensation in England, as Kidd pleaded that he had never actually turned pirate. There was plenty of evidence against him, however, and he was eventually found guilty. He was also convicted of the death of Moore, the rebellious gunner. Kidd was hanged on May 23, 1701, and his body was put into an iron cage hanging along the River Thames, where it served as a warning to other pirates. Legacy Kidd and his case have generated a great deal of interest over the years, far more than other pirates of his generation. This is probably due to the scandal of his involvement with wealthy members of the royal court. Then, as now, his tale has a lurid attraction to it, and there are many detailed books and websites dedicated to Kidd, his adventures, and his eventual trial and conviction. This fascination is Kidds real legacy because, frankly, he wasnt much of a pirate. He didnt operate for very long, he didnt take a great many prizes, and he was never feared the way other pirates were. Many pirates—such as Sam Bellamy, Benjamin Hornigold, or Edward Low, to name just a few—were more successful on the open seas. Nevertheless, only a select handful of pirates, including Blackbeard and Black Bart Roberts, are as famous as William Kidd. Many historians feel that Kidd was treated unfairly. For the time, his crimes were not truly terrible. The gunner Moore was insubordinate, the meeting with Culliford and his pirates may have gone the way Kidd said it did, and the ships he captured were at the very least questionable in terms of whether they were fair game or not. If it were not for his wealthy noble backers, who wished to remain anonymous at all costs and to distance themselves from Kidd in any way possible, his contacts probably would have saved him, if not from jail then at least from the noose. One other legacy Kidd left behind was that of buried treasure. Kidd left behind some of his loot, including gold and silver, on Gardiners Island, which was later found and cataloged. What intrigues modern treasure hunters is that Kidd insisted until the end of his life that he had buried another treasure somewhere in the Indies—presumably in the Caribbean. People have been looking for that lost treasure ever since. Sources Defoe, Daniel.  A General History of the Pirates. Dover Publications, 1972.Konstam, Angus.  The World Atlas of Pirates: Treasures and Treachery on the Seven Seas, in Maps, Tall Tales, and Pictures. The Lyons Press, 2010.

Charlotte Perkins Gilmans Cupid in the Kitchen - 1276 Words

Charlotte Perkins Gilmans Cupid in the Kitchen As a reader in the 1990s its tempting to see Charlotte Perkins Gilmans Cupid in the Kitchen as revolutionary and ahead of its time. She proposes the complete professionalization of the nutritive and execretive functions of society, a radical, if not revolutionary notion. However, in the light of the fin-de-siecle birth of the modern feminist movement, Gilman is but one voice in many crying for economic and social justice for women. In effect, the rhetorical situation of 1898 demanded and created this discourse as it does all discourse (Bitzer 5). Gilmans Cupid is a natural and elegant response to the conditions which created it: the continuing surplus of unmarried†¦show more content†¦This event also inspired Gilmans work. In this respect, Gilmans Cupid is neither revolutionary nor ahead of its time. That it bemoans the status of women in society and demands new opportunities for employment makes this piece more typical than remarkable. That is not to say that it is trivial. Gilmans book was both topical and significant in 1898. But whats most interesting in the 1990s is how her work differs from that of her contemporaries. What makes it stand out? How is it revolutionary, and why has it been anthologized? To answer these questions, the reader must follow the work to where the energy in the prose leads. This calls for a close examination of the most striking feature of her work, the proposal itself. Gilmans vision is revolutionary, and in some respects, prophetic. She proposes that the domestic chores of cleaning and nutrition be professionalized. Because they are so important, she argues, these tasks should be performed by well educated and trained professionals. She suggests that urban families living in flats and apartments could eat at a central, professionally staffed kitchen. In the suburbs, several houses could be linked by a kitchen in a similar way (Gilman 217-19). Her system offers several advantages. Obviously, peoples nutritional requirements could be better met by a centralized, professionally-staffed kitchen. In allShow MoreRelatedEssay on The Comparative Advantage of Sexual Divisions of Labor5471 Words   |  22 Pagesshe saw as a virtuous and noble woman. Virginia Woolf, however, decried what she saw as the deplorable poverty of women in A Room of One’s Own. Her solution, however, only served to further separate the spheres of men and women. Finally, Charlotte Perkins Gilman similarly objected to the state of women in Women and Economics and ultimately proposed a society that abolished any division of labor along sexual lines. None of these authors seem to contest the presence of a comparative advantage

Wake Forest University President Nathan O’Hatch Essay Free Essays

string(44) " cognition of information from each lesson\." Wake Forest University President Nathan O’Hatch hinted that the success of the University has come straight from the pupils that inhabit the establishment. along with the campus atmosphere created by them. He confirms that the university strives to obtain a vibrant and tickle pinking community that moves toward success through instruction and character development. We will write a custom essay sample on Wake Forest University President Nathan O’Hatch Essay or any similar topic only for you Order Now I believe that Wake Forest University is seeking for pupils who will go forth a positive impact on the constitution while holding a strong concentration on their ends. I believe that my rational growing and experiences. spiritual background. and morally driven values and features will lend greatly to the enlargement of the Wake Forest community. Lou Holtz one time quoted. â€Å"Ability is what you’re capable of making. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how good you do it. † This inspirational committedness to dispute your head to achieve success each and every twenty-four hours measures the accomplishments that a individual will accomplish throughout their life. Throughout my high school calling. I have experienced many educational chances and held many leading functions that were critical to determining my hereafter. A person’s ability. motive. and attitude are imperative features that define their motivations throughout all of their enterprises. I have found it really of import for one to environ oneself with positive influences. along with a diverse group of people in order to spread out and turn as an person. If one converses with the same community each twenty-four hours. they will ne’er dispute themselves in their cognition. and in bend become less intellectually rounded. I strive to be an active pupil in my school who engulfs many thoughts and is all-around in the facet of instruction and extra-curricular activities in order to go forth a positive impact on my equals for the improvement of my hereafter. and theirs. At the beginning of high school. I embarked in a plan that has impacted my life in many ways. I have been molded into a confident leader who strives to do a positive impact at my high school. and on my community. due to my adviser and my personal committedness. This organisation was Student Council. In the 9th and 10th class. I was elected Secretary and so Vice President of my category. I so was nominated and selected to function as the 2nd frailty president of the full pupil organic structure. which finally set me up to be the Student Body President my senior twelvemonth. I have grown into a individual through experiences that have come along as a consequence of my being an active portion of the Student Council. My organisational accomplishments have proved effectual as I have planned and implemented many thoughts throughout my high school calling in Student Council. I have actively planned three Homecoming skits and dances. four spring dances. three Powder-puff games. two contrivance ball tourneies. three Mr. Cardinal Cabarrus Pageants. two volleyball tourneies. and many more events as a head leader in leading category and Student Council at my school. During my last two old ages as the Student Body 2nd Vice President and Student Body President. I have actively led the council in a way that has non been travelled earlier as we have embarked on a community service undertaking and active engagement throughout the community. As the 2nd frailty president of my council. we successfully raised $ 19. 000 for Juvenile Diabetes through fundraisers including a contrivance ball tourney. a spring dance. and many other little undertakings. We have set ourselves a challenge of transcending this end as a school this twelvemonth. I have organized the council to take part in the Particular Olympic Games at the Cabarrus Arena for the past three old ages to back up and promote these astonishing jocks. I strive to take the council and my school with a positive force that places a strong accent on community service and school improvement undertakings. Student Council has allowed me to work with the disposal and high degree functionaries in the community. edifice assurance in myself along with fostering my societal accomplishments. On legion occasions. I have submitted proposals to the principal and school board to implement events. and I have had to professionally stand as the pupil body’s voice as I discuss these issues with functionaries of our community. Although defeated after the Renaissance breakfast was rejected. I responded with enthusiasm to get down the following undertaking of Darfur Awareness Week. a cause for which I am really passionate. I have actively taken a function in the Beta Club. Mu Alpha Theta Math Club. National Honors Society. and Junior Civitan Club. as I hope to make everything in my power to go forth a bequest at Central Cabarrus High School. I strive to go forth the school in a better topographic point than I found the booming constitution. On an educational footing. I have enlisted in legion advanced arrangement and awards classs to foster my rational ability throughout my in-between school and high school calling. Currently. I am disputing myself to finish two strict classs dwelling of AP English IV along with AP Government merely in this semester. These two categories are the most demanding at our school. and I am one of merely 10 persons of each category who dared to face these two challenging classs in the same semester. I admire each person in these categories and larn new thoughts and beliefs by environing myself with these astonishing and bright pupils. In my AP English category. I have been exposed to many doctrines. and many signifiers of literature. including Shakespearian sonnets and dramas. which I would hold antecedently ne’er studied. In AP Government. I have watched and analyzed the differing positions of Democrats. Libertarians. and Republicans as we analyze the modern fundamental law and judicial system. I have set a high end of myself to accomplish success in each category with a wide cognition of information from each lesson. You read "Wake Forest University President Nathan O’Hatch Essay" in category "Essay examples" If I keep a strong focal point on my ability. motive. and attitude. I will go on wining in each of these categories. I believe Wake Forest University President indicates the success of the University comes straight from the character development and diverseness which is learned from environing oneself with persons of rational and diverse backgrounds. and this is something that I have learned to encompass. Along with disputing me each twenty-four hours to intellectually turn from my experiences and instruction. the importance of Christianity has impacted and shaped my life in many countries. I was blessed to hold the chance to go to a Christian school until the age of 13. which assisted in modeling me into a compassionate. honest. and respectable person. I received a all-around instruction that allowed me to apportion a strong moral background and foundation for my life. I learned the importance of maintaining a respectable repute. giving back to the community. and go oning to pattern unimportance before God. I have been a Christian for every bit long as I can remember and hold grown as an person due to this committedness. I have challenged myself to distributing the many approvals of God and representing a positive Christian attitude in my every twenty-four hours encounters. I have portrayed an active function throughout the community and have an aspiration of doing a difference in every bit many lives as possible. As the Student Body President. a member of leading category. and the Varsity Cheerleading Captain. I have had the chance to accomplish my aspiration already in my adolescent old ages. I am really active in Race for the Cure. Walk for Juvenile Diabetes. Particular Olympics. Join the World of Winners. and Darfur Relief attempts. It is highly critical to take part in volunteer community service undertakings for the good of your community. I have served as a voluntary Particular Olympics Cheerleading manager for a gym in my country. As I have surrounded myself with these kids on a hebdomadal footing. I have learned the importance of dedication. open-mindedness. forbearance. optimism. and compassion. They have challenged me to populate up to their criterion. which in return has played a immense function in the footing of my character. The nazarene one time quoted. â€Å"It is more blest to given than to receive† ( Acts 20:35 ) . With this poetry in head. a individual can turn to see the importance of giving and. in return. having the satisfaction of impacting a person’s life. As an eight twelvemonth old. I was one of five misss to raise $ 10. 000 for the Masonic Home for Children in Henderson. North Carolina. This astonishing experience left me passionate about assisting others at an early age after seeing the impact that I had left on the lives of those kids after we delivered the cheque. As I have visited legion nursing places and kids infirmaries throughout my life-time and straight met victims of the current Darfur race murder. I have learned the impact that an person can go forth on another individual necessitating support. With Wake Forest constructing their foundation upon a Baptist. Christian doctrine. my desire to make out and assist those in demand along with representing Christian character shows my willingness to go on to construct upon the Wake Forest Community. Due greatly to my educational growing and spiritual background. I have developed many features that will greatly profit me throughout my life. After being selected as the Student Body President. I have had the privilege to take Student Council and the Student Body in all of our enterprises. I have learned so many of import qualities such as the importance of teamwork. dependability. dedication. and the ability to actuate a group of persons throughout the leading roles that I have held oover my high school calling. My leading adviser has inspired me to turn as a individual and spread out my leading qualities into going the most successful leader that I can go. Over the last three old ages. I have become closer and closer to one of my end: Endeavoring to obtain success through maintaining a positive attitude and taking a life of solid moral character. With each of the nines and activities that I have been active in. I have learned duty and committedness is the cardinal to triumph. After my 2nd twenty-four hours of AP English. I was asked to declaim a address refering the subject â€Å"Who I am. Who I am not† . I was really nervous and exhausted much clip fixing for what turned out to be an inspirational address of what I strive to achieve each and every twenty-four hours. After finishing the address. my English instructor asked me to give this address to her Varsity Volleyball squad. I was so esteemed and dying. and before their large game I recited the address to them. This meant an huge trade to me. and I was really thankful to make my best to animate this astonishing squad. Through my English teacher’s encouragement. and my Leadership advisor’s inspiration. I have become a more relaxed and comfy public talker along with constructing a strong leading character to follow with me throughout my life. I am a individual who strives to construct upon my leading qualities for the improvement of myself along with maintaining an unfastened head to all thoughts of persons as I build on my values and features. Wake Forest University seeks to â€Å"wed cognition with experience† merely as a leader must make each and every twenty-four hours. â€Å"Two roads diverged in the wood and I took the 1 less traveled by. and that has made all of the difference. † Throughout an individual’s life they encounter many waies and determinations that define them as a individual. They must sometimes take the best way for their life in fixing for their future aspirations. As a individual of high motive. I ever choose to dispute myself with high ends and new challenges. Sadly. in today’s modern universe it seems that the route less travelled is the right route ; the route where. alternatively of walking entirely through life ne’er taking notice of others. a individual stops along the manner to make out a manus to assist those who are left by the roadside. This is the way which I have chosen to take for myself. I use all of my life experiences to construct upon my life and accomplish all ends that I strive to carry through. I believe that with a diverse instruction. strong spiritual background. and character inspiration to going a great leader. I will greatly lend to the Wake Forest community. Nathan O’Hatch’s congratulations to the beautiful campus and community of Wake Forest illustrates the purpose of go oning to construct upon one of the greatest universities in the state. I strive to be a alone person with high ends to go forth an impact on the universe. I am ready to run into the challenge of go oning to spread out Wake Forest University through instruction and experience. How to cite Wake Forest University President Nathan O’Hatch Essay, Essay examples