Mary Read and Anne Bonny, two women who became pirates in men's clothing

The Celebrated Female Pirates of the Eighteenth Century: Mary Read, Known as Mark Read, and Anne Bonny Met at Sea.

Mary Read was raised as a boy from birth: her mother concealed the illegitimate daughter from the family of her late husband by passing her off as a son who had died in infancy. Having grown up, Mary became a cadet, then served in the cavalry, proved a successful soldier and… married an officer. Widowed, Mary took up the part of a man once more and hired herself out as a sailor on a Dutch ship. The vessel was captured by pirates, and Mary joined their crew, becoming the partner of the captain and of his mistress, Anne Bonny.

Anne Bonny's life had been comfortable and serene: she grew up on a wealthy estate and had every prospect of an advantageous marriage, but eloped with a sailor to the Bahamas. There her life took a piratical turn: she sat in prison, took part in escapades and was even accused of murder. Her acquaintance with a pirate captain sealed her fate: she put on men's clothes and set off to go a-pirating with him.