Blackbeard, America's most famous pirate, was born in Bristol in 1680. His gang was 400 strong and he sailed in a huge slave ship he named ‘Queen Anne's Revenge’. The ship was built in Bristol in 1710 when it was originally named ‘Concord’.

Blackbeard, formerly known as Edward Thatch (or Teach), was a frequent visitor to North Carolina during his pirating escapades and it was there, in November 1718, that he was captured and killed.

In 1996 David Moore, Curator of Nautical Archaeology at the North Carolina Maritime Museum, located and dug up the ‘Queen Anne’s Revenge’, lying in shallow water off the American coast. 

David Moore will be at Bristol University to talk about his eight years of investigation and excavation of the shipwreck site on Thursday 13 January. The talk will place the pirate commander within an appropriate historical context while discussing his activities, adversaries, associates, and ships.

Additionally, the archaeological research on the site will be discussed, as well as data gleaned from the ship, including weaponry, ceramics, scientific instruments, pewterware, and items associated with the ship itself such as remnants of the hull structure. 

The lecture is open to the public and will be held at 5.30 on 13 January in the Powell Lecture Theatre, Physics Department, University of Bristol, Tyndall Avenue. For further information please ring 0117 954 6060.