Pirate Hunters

Pirates hate and fear these hunters more then any Navy.  These men were once pirates themselves and have turned their knowledge and skills to the task of hunting down their former Bretheran. 
Pirate hunters come and go, some find it hard to resist the lure of plunder and instead of upholding the law 'Go on the Account' and become pirates themselves.  (William Kidd comes to mind.)
At the moment there are two pirate hunters of particular note, Captain Benjamin Hornigold and Captain Miguel Henriquez.

Captain Benjamin Hornigold, was an English pirate. His ship has been the starting point for several better known pirates. Like many Caribbean pirates, Hornigold served previously on an English privateer during the War of Spanish Succession.

Hornigold was known for being less vicious than most. One of his victims told how his ship had been pursued by Hornigold's. Eventually they struck their colours and the pirates boarded. Hornigold, somewhat apologetically, simply asked the crewmen for their hats. He explained that the pirates had got drunk the night before and thrown their own hats overboard. Having got what he wanted, Hornigold left the vessel in peace.

Hornigold was one of the original 'Founders' of the Pirate Republic on New Providence where he ruled as 'Governor' and enjoyed the pick of the new recruits, including one Edward Teach.  When Hornigold left New Providence it was with Teach (later known as Blackbeard) among his crew. When he captured a sloop, he placed her under Teach's command. In 1717 they plundered six ships off the American coast and raided in the Caribbean. By the year's end Hornigold and Teach had captured a French slave ship, the 'Concorde' laden with gold, jewels, and other booty from a successful slave voyage.  After dividing the spoils, and giving Teach the Concorde (which he renamed the Queen Anne's Revenge) they parted company.

Blackbeard went to North America, and Hornigold sailed to New Providence. When Woodes Rogers was appointed royal governor of the Bahamas, Captain Hornigold requested and received a pardon.  At that point Rogers commissioned him to hunt down pirates.
Hornigold commands his old 36 gun two masted sloop 'Ranger' with a crew of 123.

Captain Miguel Henriquez (c. 1680 – ), born in Puerto Rico.

Henriquez, a mulatto, was a shoemaker by occupation. Until, in the latter years of the 17th century, Henriquez decided to try his luck as a pirate. He has intercepted English merchant ships and other ships the seas of Puerto Rico and the Atlantic Ocean in general.

During the war he organized an expeditionary force which fought and defeated the British in the island of Vieques. Henriquez was received as a national hero when he returned the island of Vieques back to the Spanish Empire and to the governorship of Puerto Rico.

In recognition for his services, the Spanish Crown, under the order of King Philip V, awarded Miguel Henriquez with "La Medalla de Oro de la Real Efigie" (The Gold Medal of the Royal Effigy) in 1713 and named him Captain of the Seas and Land, The Spanish Crown also gave him a special permit to do his pirate activities in the name of Spain. The letter of marque and reprisal granted him the privileges of privateer.

Since the end of the war Henriquez has surrendered his letters of Marque and now operates under license from the Crown as a  pirate hunter.

Henriquez is one of the richest men in Puerto Rico. He owns five ships and has at least 500 men working for him.
Captain Henriquez's fleet includes an 8 gun single masted sloop, a 12 gun single masted sloop, an 18 gun Barque, a 26 gun  two masted sloop of war and a 32 gun  square rigged merchant ship.