A Date With History: Pirates of the Chesapeake

POSTPONED. We will announce when we have a new date for the lecture. Thank you for your understanding and stay safe!

The story of Chesapeake pirates and patriots begins with a land dispute and ends with the untimely death of an oyster dredger at the hands of the Maryland Oyster Navy. From the Golden Age of Piracy to Confederate privateers and oyster pirates, the maritime communities of the Chesapeake Bay are intimately tied to a fascinating history of intrigue, plunder, and illicit commerce raiding. Dr. Goodall’s work introduces infamous men like Edward “Blackbeard” Teach and “Black Sam” Bellamy as well as lesser known local figures like Gus Price and Berkeley Muse whose tales of piracy are legendary from the harbor of Baltimore to the shores of Cape Charles. Her talk will focus specifically on the Oyster Wars of the 19th Century, highlighting an often overlooked aspect of Chesapeake Bay history.

-Dr. Jamie L. H. Goodall