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1553
John Ward is Born
John Ward is said to have been born in Faversham, Kent, in southeast England. Source: HistoryExtra -
Period: 1553 to
Ward's Early Life
The only thing known about Wards early life is that he worked in the fisheries in Faversham, Kent. Sources: HistoryExtra, A true and certaine report of the beginning, proceedings, ouerthrowes, and now present estate of Captaine Ward and Danseker by Andrew Barker -
1558
Elizabeth I of England
1558 is when Elizabeth I of England becomes the queen of England. She is queen until her death in 1603, and she is the one that gives Ward his letter of marque. -
Ward Becomes a Privateer
Ward was given a letter of marque from Queen Elizabeth I of England, allowing him to plunder Spanish ships. -
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The Dey of Tunis - Uthman Dey
Uthman Dey plays an important part in Ward's life as he hires him as a pirate, and allows him to live in Tunis. -
Period: to
Nine Years War (Ireland)
Since Ward was a privateer for England during this time, it is likely that he was in this war. -
Ward in the Royal Navy
Ward wasn't a fisherman for long as he was allegedly forced to work in the royal navy, which was a fate some described as worse than death. He boarded a ship called the Lyon's Whelp. -
James I of England
After the death of Elizabeth I, James I of England assumed the throne in 1603. He ended the war with Spain and put the privateers out of business. Many of the former privateers decided to go back to piracy but Ward decided to be a fisherman again. -
Ward Escapes the Royal Navy
It wasn't long before Ward found a way to escape the Royal Navy. When a small merchant ship arrived, he convinced 30 of his comrades to steal the ship and flee Plymouth. Source: HistoryExtra -
Reniera e Soderina
The capture of the ship called Reniera e Soderina is considered to be the peak of Ward's career. The fight lasted three hours and when offered the choice to surrender he refused. One of his men said "as if he had the courage to out-brave death." (The image does not have the Reniera e Soderina in it, but depicts a fight with barbary corsairs) Source: HistoryExtra -
Yusuf Reis
In 1610 Ward refitted the Reniera e Soderina but his structural alterations had weakened the vessel so much that when a storm came it sunk the ship. Ward was able to go back to Tunis on a smaller vessel but 350 men died and this severely damaged his reputation. After this disaster Ward and his crew decided to become Muslim. Ward changed his name to Yusuf Reis and got married for a second time, even though he still had a wife in England. -
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Ward in Retirement
Ward spent the last 12 years of his life in retirement. He trained young barbary corsairs and had a hobby of hatching eggs. -
John Ward Dies
John Ward would be 68-69 years old at the time of his death. He died in Tunis, Tunisia, and it's possible that he died from the bubonic plague, also referred to as the black death.