Charles Johnson
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C.J.,[1] better known by his penname Charles Johnson,[2] was a pirate who operated in the West Indies during the early 18th century. He served as the deckhand and personal scribe for Edward Thatch, aboard the Sea Dog's Bite from 1713 to 1717, and for the Queen Anne's Revenge from 1717 to November 1718.[2]
Biography
Originally a simple deckhand, on 3 January 1713, C.J. was called upon during the night and told that because of his abilities in drawing and writing he was also to become Edward Thatch's scribe, responsible for transcribing the captain's thoughts into a journal.[1] On 28 July 1713, with the end of War of the Spanish Succession, Thatch announced to his crew that they would become a pirate vessel and allowed them to leave if they so choose. Though conflicted, C.J. chose to stay.[3]
On 21 November 1718, Blackbeard expelled C.J. and Israel Hands from his crew, hoping that doing so would keep them from dying alongside him.[4] Following Blackbeard's death, C.J. decided to leave behind piracy, choosing a new path "under a fake name, but with true affection" to guarantee that his former captain would never be forgotten.[2]
Under the penname of Captain Charles Johnson, he published the 1724[5] book A General History of the Robberies and Murders of the most notorious Pyrates.[6]
Legacy
With the success of the book, which painted Woodes Rogers in a heroic light for his quest to rid the West Indies of pirates, the former governor was given a pension by the king and awarded a second term as governor.[6]
Around 2001, Assassin William Miles read Johnson's book while training his son, Desmond, how to walk without making noise.[7] In 2013, Abstergo Entertainment employees read Johnson's book in order to help with creating the Database entries for the Sample 17 Project, though noted that he was a frequently unreliable source.[8]
Appearances
- Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag (mentioned only)
- Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag: Blackbeard – The Lost Journal (first appearance)
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag: Blackbeard – The Lost Journal – 3 January, 1713
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag: Blackbeard – The Lost Journal – One Last Entry
- ↑ Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag: Blackbeard – The Lost Journal – 28 July, 1713
- ↑ Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag: Blackbeard – The Lost Journal – 21 November, 1718
- ↑
Captain Charles Johnson on Wikipedia
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag – Database: Woodes Rogers
- ↑ Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag – Noob's personal files – Subject 17: memo 3
- ↑ Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag – Database: Mary Read