Howell Davis

Howell Davis, sometimes spelled “Hywel Davis,” was a Welsh pirate whose brief but impactful career at the turn of the 18th century earned him a reputation as a cunning, charismatic, and strategic seafarer. Operating primarily along the West African coast and in the Caribbean during the Golden Age of Piracy, Davis distinguished himself not only through daring raids but also through deception, diplomacy, and an unusually polished demeanor for a pirate captain.

Early Life and Origins

Howell Davis was born around 1690 in Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire, Wales, though exact details about his early life remain sparse. Before turning to piracy, Davis was employed as a mate on a slave ship called the Cadogan. His turn to piracy wasn’t entirely voluntary. In 1718, while on a voyage to the Caribbean, the Cadogan was captured by the infamous pirate Edward England off the coast of West Africa. Rather than resisting or facing death, Davis opted to join his captors—a common and often pragmatic choice for sailors at the time.

Rise to Captaincy

Once among the pirates, Davis quickly proved himself capable and intelligent. After being set free with the Cadogan and returning to Barbados, he staged a mutiny and took over the ship, launching his career as a pirate captain. From there, Davis began sailing up and down the African coast, raiding forts, capturing ships, and recruiting crew members.

One thing that set Davis apart was his use of wit and cunning over brute force. On multiple occasions, he posed as a legitimate privateer or naval officer to gain access to ports and ships. His most famous act of trickery was against the Portuguese fort at Maio in the Cape Verde Islands. He convinced the Portuguese authorities he was a royal envoy, gaining entry—and then promptly looted the fort and took hostages.

Operations and Notable Exploits

Davis operated primarily along the West African coast, targeting slave ports and merchant vessels. He captured numerous ships, and his growing reputation allowed him to form alliances with other pirates. Among them were Bartholomew Roberts—later known as “Black Bart” and perhaps the most successful pirate of all time—whom Davis recruited and mentored. This mentorship would have a lasting impact on pirate history, as Roberts would carry on Davis’s legacy with great success.

Davis’s strategy often involved psychological manipulation. He would send letters demanding surrender under the threat of overwhelming firepower—much of which was bluff, but often effective. His crew respected him for his brains and his relatively fair treatment compared to more ruthless captains of the time.

Death and Legacy

Howell Davis’s career came to an abrupt end in June 1719. While attempting to repeat one of his clever ruses—posing as a British privateer to infiltrate the Fort of Príncipe (on the island of the same name off the coast of Africa)—he was ambushed and killed in a firefight arranged by the local Portuguese governor, who had seen through the deception.

Davis’s death cut short a promising pirate career, but his influence lived on. Not only had he launched the pirating career of Bartholomew Roberts, but his methods—favoring trickery, negotiation, and diplomacy over indiscriminate violence—set him apart from many contemporaries. He is often remembered as a “gentleman pirate,” a title shared by few others, including Stede Bonnet.

Final Thoughts

Howell Davis stands as an example of how piracy during the Golden Age wasn’t always about blood and brutality. His style was calculating, opportunistic, and clever—an approach that won him short-term success and a lasting place in pirate lore. Though his life was brief, Howell Davis remains a compelling figure: a pirate who preferred a sharp mind to a sharp sword, yet still met the tragic end that so often befell men of his trade.

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