As the rumor goes, Killian McBlarny was a born pirate. He was the son of a known African Pirate, Captain Kroomwell. Kroomwell was a giant man with giant greed. He commanded a sailing vessel between 1770 and 1780, where he plundered sailing vessels around the horn of Africa. His greed kept the vessel at sea longer and his crew working harder, but the benefits were considerable. Kroomwell was known for his ruthless execution of prisoners, and his resale of captured vessels and arms to anyone. A number of pirates were supplied by his methods.
In 1780 it is rumored that he took an Irish woman as a concubine, and sired a son. Fleeing her pirate capture she took young Killian McBlarney and raised him in her native Ireland. Killian inherited his fathers temperament and nature, as at 16 he signed on as pirate crew.
Many accounts of his life indicate that he assassinated his captain and assumed control, but more likely is that he simply stole enough treasure to purchase and crew his own vessel. In either event, Killian’s first recorded act of piracy was against a merchant vessel of Britain in 1897. In this act, he executed all of the crew and discharged their bodies to the sea.
Killian was soon forced away from European waters to the West Indies [Caribbean]. Apparently, without motive other than greed, Killian attacked and plundered 11 merchant vessels. It is popularly reported that anyone captured in these raids was set free, thus breaking the cycle of murder that his father faithfully upheld. In 1800, Napoleon signed a letter of marquee with Killian. He was charged with the destruction of British shipping and the capture of any cargo bound for British ports.
From 1800 to 1804, Killian raided, plundered, and pirated in the name of France. He was so successful that the British Navy dispatched 10 ships of the line to hunt down and destroy him. This was a very significant move, as the impending war with France would require all the ships the British could muster. Killian was so embolden by the hunt that he is reported to have snuck aboard one of the vessels and scuttled it.
As reward for services to the French Empire was a huge land grant within the Louisiana territory. No record exists as to the nature of the land grant, nor is there any record that Killian ever received compensation for his activities, but local rumors about his vast treasures and activities near New Orleans are stuff of [albeit bar room] legend.
The small town of Thibodaux Louisiana claims that the famous pirate founded the town. Several tourist traps offer Killian McBlarney souvenirs and memorabilia. Modern historians have little factual testimony as to the accuracy of this claim, but the residents still proclaim it as truthful history.
True scholarly work on Killian and his piracy has little on the later portions of his career, as lands of the Louisiana Purchase were transferred to the Americans actions against piracy increased. Killian’s last known act of piracy was off the coast of Key West where Captain Killian attacked a British merchant ship [1805]. He plundered the cargo and left the crew marooned on a tropical island. Many other acts of piracy were attributed to Killian after 1805, but none has been substantiated.
The rumor of the famed pirate runs rampant within Thibodaux. Most commonly, it is told to attract tourists, but it is a frequent bar rail legend. In both cases, the telling is the real purpose. If the town gets people to visit, they gain the needed tourist income that local New Orleans seems to hoard. Anyone who is town and not living under a rock [and it would have to be a pretty big rock] have heard of the Killian stories. Most know the drunken exaggerations that come with the telling and pay them little mind. Some pay closer attention.
In 1780 it is rumored that he took an Irish woman as a concubine, and sired a son. Fleeing her pirate capture she took young Killian McBlarney and raised him in her native Ireland. Killian inherited his fathers temperament and nature, as at 16 he signed on as pirate crew.
Many accounts of his life indicate that he assassinated his captain and assumed control, but more likely is that he simply stole enough treasure to purchase and crew his own vessel. In either event, Killian’s first recorded act of piracy was against a merchant vessel of Britain in 1897. In this act, he executed all of the crew and discharged their bodies to the sea.
Killian was soon forced away from European waters to the West Indies [Caribbean]. Apparently, without motive other than greed, Killian attacked and plundered 11 merchant vessels. It is popularly reported that anyone captured in these raids was set free, thus breaking the cycle of murder that his father faithfully upheld. In 1800, Napoleon signed a letter of marquee with Killian. He was charged with the destruction of British shipping and the capture of any cargo bound for British ports.
From 1800 to 1804, Killian raided, plundered, and pirated in the name of France. He was so successful that the British Navy dispatched 10 ships of the line to hunt down and destroy him. This was a very significant move, as the impending war with France would require all the ships the British could muster. Killian was so embolden by the hunt that he is reported to have snuck aboard one of the vessels and scuttled it.
As reward for services to the French Empire was a huge land grant within the Louisiana territory. No record exists as to the nature of the land grant, nor is there any record that Killian ever received compensation for his activities, but local rumors about his vast treasures and activities near New Orleans are stuff of [albeit bar room] legend.
The small town of Thibodaux Louisiana claims that the famous pirate founded the town. Several tourist traps offer Killian McBlarney souvenirs and memorabilia. Modern historians have little factual testimony as to the accuracy of this claim, but the residents still proclaim it as truthful history.
True scholarly work on Killian and his piracy has little on the later portions of his career, as lands of the Louisiana Purchase were transferred to the Americans actions against piracy increased. Killian’s last known act of piracy was off the coast of Key West where Captain Killian attacked a British merchant ship [1805]. He plundered the cargo and left the crew marooned on a tropical island. Many other acts of piracy were attributed to Killian after 1805, but none has been substantiated.
The rumor of the famed pirate runs rampant within Thibodaux. Most commonly, it is told to attract tourists, but it is a frequent bar rail legend. In both cases, the telling is the real purpose. If the town gets people to visit, they gain the needed tourist income that local New Orleans seems to hoard. Anyone who is town and not living under a rock [and it would have to be a pretty big rock] have heard of the Killian stories. Most know the drunken exaggerations that come with the telling and pay them little mind. Some pay closer attention.
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