Wikipedia's article of the day today was about Stede Bonnet, a pirate. I was struck by the opening lines of the entry:
Stede Bonnet was an early 18th-century Barbadian pirate, sometimes called "the gentleman pirate". Because of marital problems, and despite his lack of sailing experience, Bonnet decided to turn to piracy in the summer of 1717.
I am almost jealous of him and his time. His marriage wasn't working out so he decided to become a pirate!
I have not sat down and considered what drove men to become pirates, but if I had, a lack of wedded bliss probably would not have sprung to mind.
Furthermore, even though he was a complete amateur, he went out, bought a boat, hired a crew, and set sail for a life of piracy. He was probably thinking, "I'll show her!" the whole time too.
You have to admire that sort of "can do" spirit as well as the motivation a bad marriage can provide.
Of course, he was caught and hung in 1718, but not before he had a pretty good run as a pirate.
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