Nassau, Bahamas French allied forces briefly occupied Nassau. From 1703 to 1718 there was no governor in the colony and by 1713, the sparsely settled Bahamas had become a pirate haven. The Governor of Bermuda stated that there were over 1,000 pirates in Nassau and that they outnumbered the mere hundred inhabitants of the town. They proclaimed Nassau a pirate republic, establishing themselves as "governors". Examples of pirates that used Nassau as their base are Charles Vane, Thomas Barrow (who declared himself "Governor of New Providence"), Benjamin Hornigold, Calico Jack Rackham, Anne Bonny, Mary Read, and the infamous Edward Teach, better known
William Read (pirate) captured grab. Thomas White remained aboard until leaving to sail with Nathaniel North. William Read of the "Alexander" should not be confused with William Read of the "Ranger", a pirate who served under Captain Charles Harris until Harris was abandoned by Edward Low and captured by the "HMS Greyhound" in 1723. William Read (pirate) William Read (died 1701, last name occasionally Reed) was a pirate active in the Indian Ocean near Madagascar. He is best known for rescuing fellow pirate captains John Bowen and Thomas White. Read was captain of the "Alexander", a 60-ton brigantine based out of Madagascar. Around