William Kidd (Captain Kidd)

William Kidd, commonly known as Captain Kidd, was a 17th-century Scottish pirate and privateer. Originally hired by the British government to hunt pirates, he later turned to piracy himself, attacking ships for personal gain. His most notorious act was the 1699 sinking of the Quedagh Merchant, a Turkish ship. Kidd was captured, tried, and executed in 1701 for piracy and murder, but some believe he was unfairly accused or that his reputation was exaggerated. His story highlights the blurry lines between lawful privateering and piracy during the Age of Sail.