Charles Johnson
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Charles Johnson (fl. 1724 – 1736)[1] was a pirate captain who operated in the West Indies during the early 18th century. He served as a deckhand and Edward Thatch's scribe aboard the brig Sea Dog's Bite from 1713 to 1717, and then on the frigate Queen Anne's Revenge from 1717 to November 1718.[2]
Biography[edit | edit source]
Little is known about Johnson's early life,[1] as he never spoke about his past save that he originally wanted to be a scholar and artist due to his noted skills in penmanship and sketching. Despite this, he began what would become his life-long naval career starting as a mere deckhand aboard the brig Sea Dog's Bite. On 2 January 1713, Thatch called Johnson to his cabin and, after allaying his initial fears that he was being punished, told Johnson that he was to become the captain's scribe responsible for transcribing Thatch's voiced thoughts into a journal because of his abilities with the quill.[3]
On 28 July 1713, with the signing of the Treaty of Utrecht marking an end to the War of the Spanish Succession, Thatch announced to his crew that they would become a pirate vessel and allowed them to leave if they wanted. Though conflicted, Johnson opted to stay.[4]
On 21 November 1718, Thatch expelled both Johnson and first mate Israel Hands from his crew, hoping that doing so would keep them from dying alongside him.[5] Following Thatch's death the next day,[6] Johnson decided to leave piracy behind and chose a new path "under a fake name, but with true affection" to guarantee that his former captain would never be forgotten.[2] In 1724,[1] he published the book A General History of the Robberies and Murders of the most notorious Pyrates.[7]
Legacy[edit | edit source]
The book was an immediate success, painting the Caribbean Templar and Governor of the Bahamas, Woodes Rogers, in a heroic light for his quest to rid the West Indies of pirates; this glowing portrayal of the former governor convinced King George I to grant him a pension and award a second term.[7]
Around 2001, the Assassin William Miles read Johnson's book while training his son, Desmond, on how to move silently.[8] In 2013, Abstergo Entertainment employees read Johnson's book in order to help with creating the database entries for the Sample 17 Project, though they noted that he was a frequently unreliable source.[9]
Behind the scenes[edit | edit source]
Historically the identity of Charles Johnson is disputed as there are no contemporary records of a pirate captain with that name. It is generally accepted to be the pseudonym of someone connected to the London publishing scene, usually assumed to be Daniel Defoe or Nathaniel Mist.[1]
Appearances[edit | edit source]
- Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag (first mentioned)
- Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag: Blackbeard – The Lost Journal (first appearance)
- Echoes of History (mentioned only)
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3
Captain Charles Johnson on Wikipedia
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag: Blackbeard – The Lost Journal – A Final Entry
- ↑ Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag: Blackbeard – The Lost Journal – 2 January, 1713
- ↑ 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
- ↑ Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag – Do Not Go Gently...
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 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