Francois Delaunee

Born [date unknown] in France

Died May 1700 in Princess Anne County, Virginia

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Biography

A French pirate serving under Captain Louis Guittar. Delaunee was one of three pirates that were tried and hanged in May of 1700.

Captain Louis Guittar was a French pirate. He commanded the ship La Paix. On 28 April of 1700, he sailed into lower Chesapeake Bay with five prizes. He anchored at Lynnhaven Bay. The Virginia Governor, Francis Nicholson, was ashore from the ship the Shoreham, enjoying a Sunday afternoon visit with Colonel William Wilson. After receiving news of the La Paix, the governor ordered an attack. The Shoreham was commanded by Captain William Passenger. The governor along with his friend Collector Peter Heyman, boarded the Shoreham to observe the battle.
At dawn on Monday the 29th,the battle commenced, and carried on until the middle of the afternoon. The pirate ship took a heavy battering, losing 39 of her crew. Her lines were shot away and she ran aground at Lynnhaven, forcing a striking of her colors. Quarter was granted because many prisoners were in her hold. What was left of the pirate crew were carried off to Hampton as prisoners. Three of these were hanged and 99 others shipped off to England in chains.^[1]

Description of Pirate Trial

Sources

1. ↑ History of Lower Tidewater Virginia pp 131-132