23rd May 1701: Captain Kidd executed in London for piracy and murder

Added: 2026-05-26

[00:00:00]On 23 May 1701 Captain Kidd,  the Scottish privateer, was executed in London after being  convicted of piracy and murder.

[00:00:11]Welcome to HistoryPod.

[00:00:20]William Kidd was born in Scotland, but  settled in New York as a young man.

[00:00:25]By 1696 he has established himself  as an experienced sailor and was granted a commission by the English colonial  governor as a privateer in the Indian Ocean.

[00:00:36]This authorised him to suppress piracy and capture  French vessels, reflecting concerns about the disruption caused by pirates to trade routes. Financial backing for the expedition included prominent political figures, linking the venture  to broader imperial and commercial priorities.

[00:00:56]During his voyage to the Indian Ocean,  Kidd captured the Quedagh Merchant, a vessel carrying valuable cargo including  gold, silver, and a variety of fabrics.

[00:01:08]Although he claimed the  ship was a legitimate prize, its ownership and the circumstances  of its capture were disputed and led to accusations that Kidd had exceeded  his authority and engaged in piracy.

[00:01:22]After selling some of his captured goods  and depositing others he returned to the American colonies, where he found  political support had weakened.

[00:01:32]Kidd was arrested and sent to England for trial on charges of piracy and the murder  of a crew member, William Moore.

[00:01:40]He was found guilty, and on 23 May was executed  by hanging at Execution Dock on the River Thames.

[00:01:49]His body was subsequently placed in gibbet and  displayed over the River Thames at Tilbury Point.

[00:01:56]Kidd’s story later became intertwined with the  image of the pirate in literature and folklore.

[00:02:02]Stories of his buried treasure contributed  to enduring myths that influenced later works such as Treasure Island, while  ballads and pamphlets allowed his story to contribute to cultural memory  and popular narratives of piracy.