Robert Sample

Robert Sample (died 1719, first name occasionally Richard, last name occasionally Semple) was a pirate active off the coast of Africa and in the Caribbean. He is best known for sailing with Edward England.

Robert Sample
Died1719
OccupationPirate
Known forSailing with Edward England
Piratical career
Other namesRichard
Base of operationsCoast of Africa and in the Caribbean
CommandsFlying King

History

In late 1718 Edward England aboard his ship Royal James (renamed from the recently captured Pearl) had been looting ships between Cape Verde and the Azores.[1] He took a number of ships off Cape Coast Castle near Gambia in spring 1719.[2] Several he plundered and let go, a few he burned, but he refitted two for piracy.[1] One of them was the 6-gun, 14-man Elizabeth and Katherine, commanded by Captain Bridge out of Barbados, which he captured on 27 June.[3] Four of the Elizabeth and Katherine's crew joined England's pirates. England refitted and crewed the Elizabeth and Katherine and renamed it Flying King, naming Richard Sample as captain.[3]

Sample sailed with Robert Lane, who captained England’s other refitted vessel. They looted several ships in the Caribbean then stopped to careen their vessels.[2] In November they sailed toward Brazil "and did a great deal of mischief" among Portuguese shipping.[2] A Portuguese man-of-war ("a very unwelcome guest to them") chased them soon after.[2] Lane escaped, but he and his crew died when their ship was lost offshore. Sample was unable to evade the warship and tried to escape by beaching the Flying King.[4] Twelve of its crew had been killed; the Portuguese captured the rest, hanging 38, almost all of whom were English.[2]

See also
  • Pirate Code, the "articles" signed by the Elizabeth and Katherine's men when they joined England's pirate crew

References
  1. Grey, Charles (1933). Pirates of the eastern seas (1618-1723): a lurid page of history. London: S. Low, Marston & co., ltd. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  2. Johnson, Captain Charles (1724). A GENERAL HISTORY OF THE PYRATES. London: T. Warner. Retrieved 18 June 2017.
  3. Seitz, Don Carlos (1925). Under the Black Flag: Exploits of the Most Notorious Pirates. New York: Dial Press. p. 167. ISBN 9780486421315.
  4. Gosse, Philip (1924). The Pirates' Who's Who by Philip Gosse. New York: Burt Franklin. Retrieved 23 June 2017.


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