Mary Read

Infamous female pirate who defied 18th-century gender norms, becoming a legendary figure in the Golden Age of Piracy.

Mary Read (c. 1690–1721) carved her name into history as one of the few female pirates during the Golden Age of Piracy. Disguised as a man for most of her life, she sailed with Calico Jack Rackham’s crew, challenging rigid gender roles of her era. Her combat prowess—documented in Captain Charles Johnson’s A General History of the Pyrates—earned her respect in a male-dominated world.

Born to a widow who disguised her as a deceased brother to claim inheritance, Read later joined the British military, marrying a soldier before turning to piracy. Aboard Rackham’s ship, she fought alongside Anne Bonny, another cross-dressing pirate. Their capture in 1720 revealed their genders, shocking the public and inspiring ballads and plays.

Though executed in Jamaica, Read’s defiance of societal norms made her a feminist icon. Modern scholars highlight her as a symbol of resistance against patriarchal structures. Her life has been dramatized in works like National Geographic features, ensuring her place in popular culture as a trailblazer for gender equality.