In just 2 years of wandering the seas, “Pirate King” Henry Avery and his gang captured over 10 ships and amassed a tremendous amount of loot.
Known as the “Pirate King,” Henry Avery commanded around 160 pirates as they launched attacks and plundered many vessels in the 17th century. Notably, he audaciously attacked the ship of Indian Emperor Aurangzeb.
Born in 1659 in Plymouth, England, Henry Avery is one of the most notorious pirates in history. He is believed to have served in the Royal Navy before becoming the “Pirate King.”
“Pirate King” Henry Avery and his crew amassed significant wealth from their plunders.
According to some researchers, Henry Avery’s highest rank while serving in the Navy was Captain. However, the reasons behind his decision to turn to piracy in 1691 remain unclear.
Some believe that Henry Avery chose this path because being a pirate allowed him to live a carefree life, operate outside the law, and potentially earn a fortune in a short time.
After a few years of “practicing” piracy, Henry Avery became the captain of a pirate ship. He commanded around 160 pirates, executing numerous attacks and seizing the possessions and goods of merchant ships. Consequently, “Pirate King” Henry Avery and his gang acquired a significant amount of gold, silver, jewels, and other valuable treasures to enjoy their lives.
One of the largest heists that Henry Avery executed occurred on September 7, 1695. At that time, the “Pirate King” led his crew in a raid on the Ganj-i-Sawai, a ship owned by the Indian Emperor Aurangzeb—one of the most powerful and wealthiest figures of the time.
After a few years of “practicing” piracy, Henry Avery became the captain of a ship.
The Ganj-i-Sawai was carrying a large amount of gold and silver worth millions of dollars, along with many pilgrims. During this attack, Henry Avery’s crew even tortured and killed several people on board.
Under pressure from India, King William III of England placed a substantial bounty on anyone who could capture Henry Avery. Consequently, this “Pirate King” was pursued relentlessly.
To this day, no one knows for certain what happened to the “Pirate King.” Some say that in 1696, Avery boarded the Sea Flower to Ireland and lived out the rest of his life in peace. Others believe Avery fled to Madagascar and established a pirate haven there, or returned to England and died in poverty after being tricked out of his treasure.
However, last August, two shipwreck explorers discovered a coded letter written by someone named “Avery the Pirate” in a Scottish archive. The letter, dated December 1700, was addressed to Reverend James Richardson on Orange Street, London.
According to the explorers, this letter provides evidence that Henry Avery not only returned to England after his legendary raid but also became involved in King William III’s spy network in the early 18th century.
