Kidd, WILLIAM

Kidd, WILLIAM, pirate, was a native of Scotland, born probably at Greenock, and is supposed to have been the son of a worthy Covenanting minister who was put to the torture of the boot, and who died in 1679. The lad went early to sea, saw much hard service privateering against the French, and gained a high reputation for stubborn courage, and in 1691 a reward of £150 from the council of New York city. At this time the American colonies were supposed to be nests of pirates who infested the Indian Ocean, and Coote, Earl of Bellamont, was sent out by William III. as governor of New York and Massachusetts with special instructions to suppress the pest. A ship of 30 guns was fitted out by a private company in London and given to Kidd, who was furnished, moreover, not only with the usual letters of marque, but with commissions under the great seal both to act against the French and to seize pirates. In January 1697 he reached Madagascar, the chief rendezvous of the pirates, but ere long disquieting reports reached England that Captain Kidd was playing the game of pirate himself. After a two years' cruise he returned to the West Indies, and a few months later had the temerity to go to Boston without securing himself by a satisfactory safe-conduct. In spite of the half-promises that had been made him he was arrested and sent to England, where he was tried for piracy and the murder of one of his men. Of the latter charge he was formally found guilty, and hanged at Execution Dock, London, 24th May 1701, protesting his innocence to the last. He had buried a store of treasure on Gardiner's Island, off Long Island, which was recovered and seized, amounting with what was found elsewhere to £14,000.