A General History of the Pirates · Character
William Rhet
A colonial colonel whose hunt for pirates is undone by a chance encounter and a wrong turn of the sea.
supporting
Also known as Colonel William Rhet, the aforesaid Colonel Rhet, Colonel Rhet, the Colonel
First appearance: Of Major Stede Bonnet and His Crew
As a supporting figure in A General History of the Pirates, William Rhet is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.
Colonel who commanded the two sloops that engaged and captured Bonnet; later recaptured Bonnet after his escape.
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Rhet sails out of Carolina with a commission to hunt Stede Bonnet, only to have his pursuit thrown off course by speaking a ship that sends him the wrong way. The narrator calls this the most unlucky thing that could…
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See William Rhet in Of Major Stede Bonnet and His CrewCharacter Web
42 connectionsA slice of how William Rhet sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.
Relationship types
- Rivalry
- Other
Character groups
- Pirate Captains and Hunters
- Pirates, Captains, and Officials
- Notorious Captains and Victims
+37 more in the full Character Web
Open in readerNarrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.
- 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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Follow the arc while readingRelationships
- John Rackam
rivalry · negative
Rhet was a pirate hunter who captured Rackam and his crew, leading to Rackam's execution. How this plays out →
- John Rackam
rivalry · negative
Rhet was a pirate hunter who captured Rackam and his crew, leading to Rackam's execution. How this plays out →
Relationship notes
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See William Rhet in Of Major Stede Bonnet and His CrewIn the story
William Rhet 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 William Rhet in Of Major Stede Bonnet and His Crew