Outlaws & Criminals · 18th Century
Blackbeard’s Last Words
“Come, let us take a glass together.”— Blackbeard, November 22, 1718
Who Was Blackbeard?
Edward Teach, known as Blackbeard, was an English pirate who terrorized the Caribbean and American colonies. He was the most feared pirate of the Golden Age of Piracy.
The Final Moments
Blackbeard was killed in battle against Lieutenant Robert Maynard at Ocracoke Island. He continued fighting after being shot five times and cut about twenty times.
Are These Words Verified?
Most Blackbeard last words are apocryphal. Contemporary accounts focus on the violence of his death but don't reliably record specific final words. Early 18th-century sources are contradictory and often sensationalized.
Sources
- biography A General History of the Pyrates by Charles Johnson
- newspaper Boston News-Letter, 1719
Legacy
Blackbeard is history's most famous pirate and the archetypal image of the Golden Age of Piracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What were Blackbeard’s last words?
“Come, let us take a glass together.”
How did Blackbeard die?
Blackbeard died on November 22, 1718 at the age of 38. Cause of death: Battle wounds — shot five times and cut twenty times.
Were Blackbeard’s last words documented?
Most Blackbeard last words are apocryphal. Contemporary accounts focus on the violence of his death but don't reliably record specific final words. Early 18th-century sources are contradictory and often sensationalized.
More from Outlaws & Criminals
See all →
Billy the Kid
“¿Quién es? (Who is it?)”
Jesse James
“That picture's awful dusty.”
Doc Holliday
“This is funny.”
Mata Hari
“Thank you, sir.”