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Jeremy Moss, author of “The Life and Tryals of the Gentleman Pirate, Major Stede Bonnet” joined podcast “Unsung History” to talk about all things Stede Bonnet, Blackbeard and Our Flag Means Death.

From the Unsung History website:

Stede Bonnet lived a life of luxury in Barbados, inheriting from his father an over 400-acre sugarcane plantation, along with 94 slaves. But in late 1716, when he was 29 years old, Bonnet decided to leave behind his plantation, his wife, and his three surviving children, all under the age of 5, to become a pirate, despite having no experience even captaining a ship. As Captain Charles Johnson put it in A General History of the Pyrates: “He had the least Temptation of any Man to follow such a Course of Life, from the Condition of his Circumstances,” blaming it on a “Disorder in his Mind.”

So why did Bonnet leave behind his privileged life, and would he have made the choice again if he knew how it would turn out? Joining me in this episode to help us understand more about Stede Bonnet and his possible motivations is freelance historian Jeremy R. Moss, author of The Life and Tryals of the Gentleman Pirate, Major Stede Bonnet.

Jeremy Moss was featured this week as a subject expert on the popular HISTORY Channel show Beyond Oak Island.

The episode, based in Tampa, Florida, focuses on Friday-born pirate Commodore Louis Michel-Aury.

The full episode can be streamed here:

Aury, a fascinating character of history, was a French sailor who became a pirate, an important figure in the emancipation of South America, the first governor of Texas under the Republic of Mexico, and, for a time, Governor of a independent colony on Amelia Island/Fernandina Beach, Florida.

In the episode, according to the History Channel website:

Marty and Matty dig for treasure on the beaches of Tampa, Florida believed to have been hidden in the early 1800s by the French pirate Captain Louis-Michel Aury.

Jeremy Moss, author of “The Life and Tryals of the Gentleman Pirate, Major Stede Bonnet” joined podcast Imaginary Worlds to talk about all things Stede Bonnet, Blackbeard and Our Flag Means Death.

From the Imaginary Worlds Website:

Our Flag Means Death is a hilarious anachronistic pirate comedy on HBO Max. But the backstory of its main characters is surprisingly real. I talk with pirate historian Jeremy Moss, Purdue professor Manushag Powell and Jamie Goodall, staff historian at the U.S. Army Center of Military History, about how the historical figure of Blackbeard used theatricality to become a media phenomenon, and why it was an easy transition for people to believe he was a fantasy character versed in the dark arts. And we look at whether the endearing portrayal of the bumbling “gentleman pirate” Stede Bonnet in Our Flag Means Death is leaving out a crucial aspect of his backstory.

About Imaginary Worlds

Imaginary Worlds is a podcast about science fiction, fantasy and other genres of speculative fiction hosted by Eric Molinsky

Jeremy Moss’s The Life and Tryals of the Gentleman Pirate, Major Stede Bonnet was featured this week on BuzzFeed’s 8 Books You Should Read If You Loved HBO’s “Our Flag Means Death”.

The Bonnt biography “is a must-read for anyone interested in the actual history that the show is very loosely based on. One of the few books that give an in-depth look into the life of Major Stede Bonnet, this book is well-researched and highly recommended for lovers of pirate history!”

Jeremy Moss, author of “The Life and Tryals of the Gentleman Pirate, Major Stede Bonnet” joined “Burgwin-Wright Presents… Outlander in the Cape Fear” last week to talk about all things “Stede Bonnet.”

“Burgwin-Wright Presents… Outlander in the Cape Fear” is a podcast hosted by Hunter Ingram exploring the history of Colonial North Carolina through its depiction in the book and Starz TV series “Outlander.”

Listen below as Jeremy and Hunter mine the many pop culture lives of Stede Bonnet, known as the Gentleman Pirate:

• How did someone with such a non-threatening nickname go on to inspire the vicious Stephen Bonnet on “Outlander” and HBO Max’s new comedy series “Our Flag Means Death.”
• Who was Stede, why did he leave his entire life behind to be a pirate and what happened in his eventful two years on the sea?

This podcast is produced by Burgwin-Wright House and Gardens, Wilmington’s largest and oldest historic site. For more information about the Burgwin-Wright House, visit BurgwinWrightHouse.com.

Piracy in the Americas is reaching a climax. The British Empire has decided that enough is enough. The war on Pirates is beginning. But in this increasingly hostile landscape, some of history’s greatest seafaring villains will emerge. Chief amongst them is Blackbeard. In 1717 Captain Edward Thatch is still a relative unknown… a minor brigand operating out of the Bahamas. But all that is about to change. Little does Thatch know, his legend will be launched thanks to a chance meeting with an unlikely figure — Major Stede Bonnet. The upstanding colonial nobleman turned outlaw.

Jeremy R. Moss, author of The Life and Tryals of the Gentleman Pirate, Major Stede Bonnet, has been an active contributor and collaborator in “Real Pirates,” the Spotify-original podcast telling the stranger than fiction tales of pirates of the Golden Age.

In a five part series, linked below, we sail through the intertwined lives of Bonnet and Blackbeard, the most opposite pirate duo to hit the seas

For the FULL story of Stede Bonnet and Blackbeard, pick up a copy of The Life and Tryals of the Gentleman Pirate, Major Stede Bonnet at Amazon or wherever books are sold.

About “Real Pirates”

Pirates. For centuries the world has been fascinated by them. Their legends have swollen to fantastic proportions. But who were they really? Join us each week as we set sail alongside legendary outlaws such as Blackbeard, Samuel Bellamy, Henry Morgan and Ann Bonny. We’ll separate fact from fiction and discover what life was really like under the black flag. Real Pirates is a Spotify Original from Parcast produced in partnership with Noiser.

Jeremy Moss spoke last week to Fox 13 – Tampa in preparation for the annual Gasparilla Pirate Festival.

The segment, linked below, focused on what pirate life was really like and whether we should be celebrating the buccaneers of the past.

Pirate historian Jeremy Moss says the pirate garb we see today is fashioned by Hollywood. Back in the real days of pirates, there were few joyful faces and even fewer sparkling beads, but plenty of stenches from waste and rotten food.

“It was cold or very hot. It was always wet. Constantly salty,” said Moss. “The real outfits pirate would have would be hard-wearing and practical. Short jackets, checked shirts, long canvas trousers.”

Fox 13 News – Tampa

Read more and see the video here:

https://www.fox13news.com/news/the-history-of-piracy-is-far-from-the-experience-of-gasparilla-but-thats-ok

To speak with Jeremy about future news segments, podcasts or groups, visit the Contact page.

Stede Bonnet’s real-life, stranger than fiction escapades are the inspiration for Our Flag Means Death, HBO Max’s upcoming comedy about misadventure on the high seas.

I’m excited for the series, which undoubtedly will take liberties with the story. But, the trailer shows a lot of hints and homages to the real story. Can’t wait!

https://youtu.be/YpgAhTP6ElA

In preparing for the role, Rhys Darby went full-on pirate, getting his sailing license (in the name Stede Bonnet) and by reading The Life and Tryals of the Gentlemen Pirate, Major Stede Bonnet.

Want to read more about the real life and trials of the Gentleman Pirate, Stede Bonnet? Buy my book on Amazon or wherever books are sold.