Benjamin Hornigold

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Benjamin Hornigold (1680s – 1719) was an English pirate from 1715 to 1718, and a member of the Templar Order. He was most famous for mentoring Edward Thatch and for being one of the founders of the pirate republic at Nassau.

Biography

Although his early life is largely unrecorded, it is known that Hornigold was born in England in the 1680s, and at some point made his way across the ocean to the West Indies. His first known act of piracy was in the winter of 1713-1714, when he used several small canoes and a sloop to raid both ships and settlements along the Bahamas, eventually capturing a thirty-gun schooner that he named the Ranger.

During his first years as a pirate, his second-in-command was former privateer Edward Thatch, and soon their fleet expanded to five warships, pirating everywhere from Nassau to the Honduran coast. However, he was known not to attack British ships, leading some to believe that he was actually a privateer instead of a pirate. Sometime during this period he met Edward Kenway.

Eventually, he established a pirate republic, named 'the Brethren of the Coast', in Nassau, sharing the responsibilities of leadership with Thatch and fellow pirate Charles Vane.

He later became a pirate hunter working for Woodes Rogers, after the British offered him a letter of pardon in exchange for the lives of his former comrades.

Hornigold was ultimately killed by Edward Kenway, who considered Hornigold a traitor for siding with the Templars and turning his back on their pirate principles.

Final words

• Hornigold: You could have been a man who stood for something. But you've a killer's heart now. With nothing but mettle to show for all your blunders.
• Edward: A damn sight better than you have, Ben. The heart of a traitor, who thinks himself better than his mates!
• Hornigold: Aye, and proven true! What have you done since Nassau fell? Nothing but murder and mayhem!
• Edward: You threw in with the very kind we once hated!
• Hornigold: No! These Templars are different. I wish you could see that. But if you continue on your present course, you'll find you're the only one walking it! With the gallows at its end.
• Edward: It may be. But now the world has one less snake in it. And that's enough for me.

Trivia

• Hornigold captained a schooner named the Benjamin.

Gallery

• Early concept art of Hornigold
  Early concept art of Hornigold
• 
  Concept art of Hornigold
• 
  Hornigold with Thatch and Kenway
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  Hornigold among other pirates
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  Hornigold and Kenway capturing a Spanish ship
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  Hornigold, Kenway and Thatch in Salt Key
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  Hornigold aboard the Benjamin
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  Hornigold arguing with Charles Vane

Reference

• Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag