The new Lecture Series from the National Maritime Museum Cornwall features three leading academics covering the realities behind female pirates, the horrors of the infamous ‘Barbary’ pirates, and the myths and truths behind the pirate image.

Forward and Courageous

Thursday 14 September, 7.30pm

Dr Elaine Murphy explores some of the myths and realities around female pirates from the 16th to 18th centuries, from their experiences at sea and on shore to how they have been depicted in popular culture.

Captain Charles Johnson in his General History of the Pyrates (1724) described how in action ‘no Body was more forward or courageous’ than Mary Reed and Anne Bonny on the pirate John Rackam’s ship.

As well as looking at well-known pirates like Bonny, Read and Grace O’Malley this talk will also look at some of the lesser-known women who came into contact with pirates such as women who aided and abetted them on shore or those taken captive at sea.

Dr Elaine Murphy is Associate Professor of Maritime History at the University of Plymouth. She teaches a module on Piracy and Privateering and has published on the history of piracy and the British Civil Wars at Sea. She is currently working on a project about women and the navy in the 17th century.

Tickets  Book Tickets - Museum

£8 per person, £5 students.

National Maritime Museum Cornwall Members receive a 10% discount on in person tickets. Find out more about Membership.

Tickets Book Tickets - Online

£6 for the live online webinar.

Other lectures in this series include:

• The Lamentable Cries of at Least 1500 Christians with Dr Jo Esra, Thursday 12 October. North African pirates and west country captives in the 17th century.

• Did Pirates Bury Their Treasure? with Dr Richard Blakemore, Thursday 9 November. Myths and reality in the history of piracy.