Alexander Dolzell

Alexander Dolzell (died 1715) was a Scottish privateer-turned-pirate, active in the Caribbean Sea during the early 18th century. He was the captain of the Emperor, whose crew included the future Assassin Edward Kenway.

Biography

In 1712, foreseeing the end of the War of the Spanish Succession and the need for privateers, Dolzell turned to piracy. When he asked his men if any opposed his decision and wished to leave the crew, five sailors stepped forward. The captain then had his first mate, Trafford, throw them overboard.

In January 1713, Dolzell and his crew captured a merchant ship of the East India Company, the Amazon Galley. While Edward Kenway and another crewmate, Blaney, remained aboard the Emperor to guard the Galley's captain, Benjamin Pritchard, Dolzell and the others plundered the ship's cargo. However, they were soon attacked by the privateer crew of the Sea Dog's Bite, captained by Edward Thatch, which came to the Galley's rescue.

In the resulting battle, most of the pirates were killed, but Dolzell managed to escape from the ship. According to one account, the captain abandoned his crew and jumped overboard, swimming away from the fight, while a differing account had him being thrown into the sea by a cannonball explosion. Regardless, Dolzell survived the encounter and reached land, but lost his ship and men. He lived for another two years, until the British captured and hanged him for piracy in 1715.

Behind the scenes

Alexander Dolzell is a character introduced in the 2013 novel Assassin's Creed: Black Flag, released as a tie-in to the video game Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag. He appears to be based on the historical Alexander Dalzeel (whose last name was alternatively spelled as Dolzell, Dalziel, or Dolzel), a privateer captain who sailed a ship called the Agrippa during the War of the Spanish Succession and was later executed for piracy.

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed: Black Flag