Lieutenant Richards (pirate) Lieutenant Richards (pirate) Lieutenant Richards (fl. 1718, first name unknown, possibly Thomas) was a pirate active in the Caribbean and off the Carolinas. He is best known for sailing alongside Blackbeard (Edward Teach / Thatch). Richards was part of Edward Teach’s crew while they sailed with Benjamin Hornigold and later aboard the "Queen Anne’s Revenge". Near the Carolinas in early 1717 Teach met up with pirate Stede Bonnet in his 10-gun 60-ton sloop "Revenge". Bonnet was a wealthy landowner from Barbados who knew little of seafaring or piracy; at Teach’s suggestion (and the request of Bonnet’s disgruntled crew) Bonnet came
Edward Neville (pirate) by stealth early the next morning. The defenders were caught unawares and the pirates quickly captured the town, looting it for two days and taking three Spanish ships with them before withdrawing. Future Governor William Beeston noted their return to Jamaica in October 1678, where they were pardoned for their privateering and free to spend their booty. Spanish Provincial Governor was removed from office for failing to defend Campeche, though he was later reinstated. In retaliation he ordered Spanish forces (privateer and pirate Juan Corso among them) to capture or drive off English logwood cutters in his territory. An “Edward