by Suzette Baker

Created on: July 31, 2009

Born Henry Every sometime around 1653 in Cat Down, Plymouth, England, Avery was one of Britain's most renowned pirates in the 17th century. He was best known as Captain Bridgeman, Arch Pirate, or Long Ben. He was a heavy-set man who, on the threshold of being fat, had an extremely jolly complexion. Very little is known about his early years other than him beginning his career as a pirate due to the infidelity of his wife.

Avery served in the Royal Navy and the merchant service as well as on buccaneer and slave ships before beginning his life of piracy some time around 1691. During his career with the Navy and merchant service, John Avery was known as an honest man. This was noted by one of his Dutch comrades.

In June 1694, Avery joined the ship Charles II a privateer ship under the command of Captain Gibson which was sailing from Bristol to Corunna to aid the Spanish expedition against the French. While serving on this ship, he rose to the rank of first mate and headed a mutiny while the ship was anchored off the coast of Spain. Noted reasons for this mutiny included a lack of plunder which had been taken, and the lack of pay for a period of eight months. When Captain Gibson refused to turn pirate, he was put ashore and Avery was named captain of the ship which he renamed the Fancy before setting sail for the Cape of Good Hope.

Avery led his first attack near the Cape Verde islands where he effectively robbed three British merchant ships. He soon proved himself a daring pirate leader and the next year, he joined with several other smaller pirate ships. Under his guidance, the small fleet sailed to the mouth of the Red Sea. There, they levied tolls on all ships passing through the area. He and his crew also plundered India's rich Mocha fleet which was making its return trip from Arabia and was loaded with treasure. Due to the outrage of the Mughal government, some of East India Company's trading stations were closed.

After his plundering spree in the Red Sea, Avery next headed to Reunion Island to split the loot before sailing to the Bahamas. Once they reached the Bahamas, the pirates bribed Governor Thomas Trott with two-thousand pounds of gold and gave him the Fancy. They hoped to gain a royal pardon from the Governor but since the Bahamas was a privately owned colony the Governor was unable to grant their request.

With no chance of receiving a pardon and such a high price on their heads, the crew disbanded. Along with a few members of his crew, Avery obtained the sloop Isaac and made his way toward Ireland. Once they reached Ireland, Avery left his crew there and returned to England where some say he was cheated out of his ill-gotten gains and died in poverty sometime after 1696 in Bidefore, Devonshire. Avery's career as a pirate is considered to be an unusual one since he was never captured and did not die in battle. This was unusual for one who led the life of a pirate.

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