Mary Read

At a Glance

• Born: 1695
• Died: 1721
• Active period: 1695-1721

An English woman born illegitimately to a widow who disguised her as a boy after the woman's legitimately born son died, in order to continue receiving money from his paternal grandmother. During military service, still dressing as a boy, Mary served on a ship captured by "Calico" Jack Rackham. She joined his crew and befriended Anne Bonny who eventually learned of her secret. Mary later died in prison. There are no official documents stating a specific cause of death and, although she was supposedly pregnant during her incarceration, there is no record of the burial of her child.

Mary Read and Anne Bonny are documented as the only two women to have been charged with piracy during the Golden Age of Piracy.

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