Whydah

King of Whydah being crowned

The Whydah goes from slave ship to pirate ship

Sam Bellamy

Around the 18th Century which was perhaps the peak of the African slave trade one of the main slave markets was Whydah on the west coast of Africa. Thousands of Africans were brought here by other Africans and crammed onto ships for markets in Europe, America, and the Caribbean. It was here that the slave ship Whydah got her name. She was commissioned in 1715 and set on her maiden voyage in 1716. After delivering over 300 slaves she sailed back and was boarded by pirates lead by Sam Bellamy (Black Bellamy). Bellamy was so impressed with the ship he commandeered it and made it the flag ship of his pirate fleet. Bellamy's crew was as diverse as they come, including child John King who was so impressed with the pirates raiding the ship he was on he threatened suicide if he wasn't allowed to join! On April 26, 1717, a raging storm hit off Cape Cod and caught the Whydah. Of the 146 crewmembers aboard only 2 survived. The young John King who wanted so badly to be a pirate died that night. The two survivors were captured, tried, one executed and the other sold into slavery. For more information about this go to the Houston Museum of Natural Science's pirate exhibit while it's still here.