Piracy off the Florida Coast and Elsewhere

A vivid snapshot of the age when the high seas were a hunting ground for roving brigands, this paper opens with a stark portrait of early‑modern piracy—from the public hangings that drew crowds of magistrates and townsfolk to the grim sermons delivered to condemned crews. Drawing on contemporary newspaper reports, court records and a rare personal letter from a ship’s supercargo, the author reconstructs the brutal reality of pirate attacks that could strike both coastal towns and vessels far out in the Atlantic. The narrative’s early scenes are anchored by a detailed 1818 account of the Hamburg ship Emma Sophia’s seizure off the Florida coast, offering a first‑hand glimpse into the multinational crews that manned the pirate craft.

The work weaves together these primary sources to illustrate how piracy was woven into the commercial and legal fabric of the era, highlighting the swift, often public, administration of justice that followed capture. By juxtaposing official proceedings with the lived experiences of merchants and sailors, the paper reveals the pervasive fear and fascination that piracy inspired in early American society. Listeners will come away with a richer understanding of a world where lawlessness and law enforcement collided on the ocean’s edge.