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A General History of the Pirates · Character

John Phillips

A blaspheming pirate captain whose cruelty and foul temper made him feared by his own reluctant crew.

supporting

Also known as Captain John Phillips, Phillips, Captain Phillips

First appearance: Of Captain John Phillips, and His Crew

As a supporting figure in A General History of the Pirates, John Phillips is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

Former carpenter turned pirate captain; led the crew after escaping England and seizing a vessel in Newfoundland.
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Phillips commands a small pirate sloop largely manned by men pressed into service against their will, ruling through threats and violence rather than loyalty. When he boards a Virginia vessel and its master, Captain…

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Character Web

22 connections

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RMRobert MortimerWPWilliam PhillipsELEdward LowTFThomas FernAHAndrew HarradineJPJohn Phillips

Relationship types

  • Other

Character groups

  • Captains and Crew Betrayed
  • Protagonist
  • Pirates, Captains, and Officials

+17 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Falling action.

SetupEscalationAftermathClimax
  • Setup
  • Escalation
  • Breaking point
  • Aftermath
  • Closing

This excerpt marks the dramatic climax because it presents the emotional and psychological peak of Evans's tra…

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In the story

John Phillips appears across 1 companion beat. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Chapter companion notes

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See John Phillips in Of Captain John Phillips, and His Crew