Henry Every

Henry Every, also known as Henry Avery, was born on August 20, 1659, and became one of the most notorious pirates of the late 17th century. Operating primarily in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans during the mid-1690s, Every's exploits captured the imagination of the public and inspired a wave of piracy. His career, though brief, was marked by audacity and cunning, earning him the titles of Arch Pirate and King of Pirates.

Every's journey into piracy began while serving as the first mate aboard the warship Charles II. Frustrated by unpaid wages and the lack of a letter of marque, the crew mutinied, renaming the ship Fancy and electing Every as their captain. Under his command, they embarked on a series of daring raids, the most famous being the attack on a convoy of Grand Mughal vessels in September 1695. This raid resulted in the capture of a staggering sum of precious metals and jewels, estimated at six hundred thousand pounds, which significantly strained England's relations with the Mughal Empire.

Despite the bounty of one thousand pounds placed on his head by the Privy Council and the East India Company, Every managed to evade capture, disappearing from historical records in 1696. Speculation surrounds his fate, with some accounts suggesting he may have changed his identity and lived out his days in obscurity, while others propose he squandered his ill-gotten gains. His death is believed to have occurred sometime between 1699 and 1714, and the treasure he amassed has never been recovered.