The Pirates of Amelia Island

Program Type:

Sponsored by Friends of The Villages Library

Age Group:

Adults
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Event Details

Locals throughout the island and even several visitor websites claim that the island has long been associated with pirates. They name William Kidd, Blackbeard, and Jean Laffite as the primary pirates who used the island to ambush passing vessels and to bury their treasure.

However, on top of all the legends, there is only one well documented case of pirates operating out of Amelia Island. Louis Michael Aury, former associate of Jean Laffite, used the town of Fernandina as a pirate base in the closing months of 1817.

Course topics include:

  • History of Amelia Island
  • Pirates Legends of William Kidd, Blackbeard, and Jean Laffite
  • Fernandina and the Spanish fort of San Carlos
  • Simón Bolívar’s Revolution
  • Gregor MacGregor’s Invasion of Amelia Island
  • Louis Michel Aury’s Pirate Base
  • The USS John Adams
  • Lost Treasure

If you thought you knew all about pirates, you’re in for some surprising revelations that will leave you even more intrigued!