John Mucknell
John Mucknell | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1608 |
| Piratical career | |
| Years active | 1644 - 1651 |
| Base of operations | Isles of Scilly |
John Mucknell (born 1608) was an English pirate in the 17th century. He was a Royalist. Mucknell is the subject of the book The Pirate John Mucknell and the Hunt for the Wreck of the John by Todd Stevens.
Mucknell became a ship's commander under the East India Company, a powerful firm trading between England and the East Indies. By 1643, Mucknell was unhappy with Puritan opinions and set sail on the John, a new East India Company 44-gun ship, bound for Surat. After marooning his enemies on a small island called Johanna, among the Comoros in the north end of the Mozambique Channel, Mucknell sailed first to Bristol and then to the Isles of Scilly.[1]
There, Mucknell united and took control of local pirates and the John became the flagship. There were about 11 ships in the group. Mucknell operated in the English Channel and the Western Approaches between 1644 and 1651.[2] There are three extant first hand accounts from crew members of the John.[2]
Todd Stevens, a shipwreck hunter, claims to have found the wreck of the John.[3] English Heritage announced plans to dive the wreck in June 2012.[4]
See also
References
- ^ Rawlinson, H.G. (1920). British beginnings in western India, 1579-1657: an account of the early days of the British factory of Surat.
- ^ a b Stevens, Todd (October 2011). The Pirate John Mucknell and the Hunt for the Wreck of the John. AuthorHouse Publishing. ISBN 978-1467001588.
- ^ "Wreck of pirate ship found off the Scillies may hide a treasure trove". Western Morning News. 2012-06-02. Retrieved 2012-07-29.
- ^ "Update: English Heritage Surveying Potential Pirate Ship Site". scillytoday. 14 June 2012. Retrieved 2012-07-29.
