# John Rackam — A General History of the Pirates character guide

> John Rackam in A General History of the Pirates by Captain Charles Johnson.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Rackam, Captain John Rackam, Captain Rackam

**First appearance:** 0009-vii-of-captain-john-rackam-and-his-crew

## Snapshot

A pirate captain whose crew included the famous women pirates Anne Bonny and Mary Read, and whose luck ran out at the gallows.

## Who they are

Rackam sails the Caribbean with a crew that includes two women disguised as men, a fact that scandalized and fascinated the public and made his ship a curiosity in its own right. His command is shaped by his relationship with Anne Bonny and by the uneasy balance of a crew that knows more about its captain than he would like. His fate at trial gives the book one of its most vivid courtroom scenes and ties the pirate story to the machinery of English justice.

## Relationships

### [Edward Low](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_general_history_of_the_pirates_se/characters/edward_low)

_professional_

Low and Rackam were contemporary pirate captains who occasionally interacted in the Caribbean pirate network.

### [James Skyrm](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_general_history_of_the_pirates_se/characters/james_skyrm)

_professional_

Skyrm and Rackam were fellow pirates who likely served together or crossed paths in pirate havens.

### [William Rhet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_general_history_of_the_pirates_se/characters/william_rhet)

_rivalry_

Rhet was a pirate hunter who captured Rackam and his crew, leading to Rackam's execution.

### [Edward Low](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_general_history_of_the_pirates_se/characters/edward_low)

_professional_

Low and Rackam were contemporary pirate captains who occasionally interacted in the Caribbean pirate network.

### [James Skyrm](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_general_history_of_the_pirates_se/characters/james_skyrm)

_professional_

Skyrm and Rackam were fellow pirates who likely served together or crossed paths in pirate havens.

### [Edward Low](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_general_history_of_the_pirates_se/characters/edward_low)

_professional_

Low and Rackam were contemporary pirate captains who occasionally interacted in the Caribbean pirate network.

### [William Rhet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_general_history_of_the_pirates_se/characters/william_rhet)

_rivalry_

Rhet was a pirate hunter who captured Rackam and his crew, leading to Rackam's execution.

## In the story

### [Of Captain Charles Vane, and His Crew](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_general_history_of_the_pirates_se/chapters/vi-of-captain-charles-vane-and-his-crew)

Quartermaster on Vane's ship; argues for engaging a French man-of-war, leading to Vane being deposed and Rackam taking command.

### [Of Captain John Rackam, and His Crew](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_general_history_of_the_pirates_se/chapters/vii-of-captain-john-rackam-and-his-crew)

Former quartermaster to Vane, becomes captain after Vane is deposed. Leads a series of cruises and captures before being captured and executed.

### [The Life of Mary Read](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_general_history_of_the_pirates_se/chapters/the-life-of-mary-read)

Captain of the pirate crew; became jealous of Anne Bonny's attraction to Mary Read until Anne revealed Mary's true sex.

### [The Life of Anne Bonny](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_general_history_of_the_pirates_se/chapters/the-life-of-anne-bonny)

Pirate captain who courts Anne Bonny, persuades her to leave her husband, and takes her to sea; he surrenders under the King's pardon but returns to piracy, is captured, and executed.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_general_history_of_the_pirates_se/characters/john_rackam
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_general_history_of_the_pirates_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_general_history_of_the_pirates_se/characters