Mary Read
Legacy
In the 19th century, literature such as Charles Ellms' Pirates Own Book would discuss Read at length, often with illustrations. Throughout much of the 19th and early 20th century, Read dominated literature and the stage. For the Victorian era, Read was far more popular than Bonny.
Mary Read
Mary Read (died April 1721), was an English pirate who served under John Rackham. She and Anne Bonny were among the few female pirates during the "Golden Age of Piracy".
Mary Read
Much of Read's background is unknown. The first biography of Read comes from Captain Charles Johnson's 1724 book, A General History of the Pyrates. According to Johnson, Read was born in England, dressed as a boy much of her childhood, eventually joined the military and later moved to the West Indies. Though Johnson's version of events has become generally accepted, there is little evidence to support it.
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