Thomas Howard (pirate)
| Thomas Howard | |
|---|---|
| Born | c. 16?? |
| Died | 17?? Rapajura, India |
| Piratical career | |
| Type | Pirate |
| Years active | 1698–1703 |
| Base of operations | Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, Red Sea |
| Commands | Prosperous |
Thomas Howard was a pirate primarily active in the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea during the Golden Age of Piracy. He served under other pirates of the time, including George Booth and John Bowen. He also commanded the 36-gun Prosperous. He later retired to Rapajura, in India, where he married a local woman. He was later murdered by her relatives.
While little about his early life is known, Howard arrived in Jamaica at some time prior to 1698 after spending his entire inheritance. Howard began his career by, along with a small group of pirates, first stealing a canoe and then stealing further ships until they captured a 24-gun ship. Howard was elected quartermaster by the crew.
After attacking a number of ships off the east coast of North America during 1698, the ship crossed the Atlantic Ocean and began raiding the West Coast of Africa in 1699. Howard and the crew took a large prize from a ship that had run aground on a reef off Madagascar. Shortly after this, Howard was marooned by the crew while hunting and it was not until he was rescued by George Booth in early 1701. Serving alongside John Bowen aboard the Speaker, Howard remained with the crew following Booth's death and Bowen's subsequent election as captain. Following the loss of the Speaker after grounding on St. Augustine's Reef, Howard settled on the nearby island of Mauritius.
After a short period of time he recruited a group of pirates and took the 36-gun Prosperous. Howard was elected captain at Christmas 1702 again met with John Bowen, at the port of Mayotta. Together, the two attacked the East Indiaman Pembroke in March 1703, off Johanna Island in the Comoros Islands. Howard left Bowen for a period of time - while Bowen's ship Speedy Return was being careened - but the two cooperated again in August 1703 where they attacked and took two Indian ships, with a combined value of £70,000. The two crews were merged aboard the larger of the Indian ships - a 56-gun ship renamed the Defiant - with Bowen in command. Returning to Rajapura, the crew divided the takings.
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