Have you ever wondered how pirates structured their ranks and governance on a pirate ship? Pirate crews were notorious for their swashbuckling adventures and daring exploits but behind the scenes, there was a system of pirate ranks and responsibilities. Pirates limited the authority of the captain unlike the ships of the Royal Navy and gave the ultimate authority to a “pirate council,” consisting of all members of the crew.
This article will explore the ranks, roles, and responsibilities of the pirates, from the infamous captain to the lowly powder monkey.
Captain
The Captain had the highest command of the ship. He did not have much more rights than any other crewmember in the everyday functioning of the ship.
However, they had absolute control only when making the most critical decisions, such as picking and engaging a target, escaping authorities, and dealing with attacks.
The Captain along with the Quartermaster was generally elected by the crew of the ship. While most people think that pirate captains were selected because they were feared, the fact is that most were selected democratically because of the respect they got from the crew.
The crew looked for someone capable of commanding, navigating, and fighting bravery when selecting a captain. They also had the power to dispose of a captain with a vote.
Everyone had the same rights on the pirate ships. No one belonged to a privileged class. The roles and responsibilities given to the pirate crew depended on their individual experience and skills.
First Mate
The First Mate held a position of authority second only to the Captain, ready to assume command in case the Captain was unable to carry out responsibilities. However, the role of First Mate on the pirate ships was usually assumed by the Quartermaster.
Quartermaster
The Quartermaster was the most trusted assistant of the Captain and had the absolute authority to discipline crew members who failed to follow orders in the absence of the Captain.
Just like the Captain, the Quartermaster was also elected by the crew. He was almost an equal to the Captain except during battle and acted like a judge of the ship to sort disputes between crewmembers.
The Quartermaster was responsible for managing the food and water provisions aboard the ship. Additionally, they would usually lead assaults when boarding and assume command of the captured boats when needed.
Master-at-Arms
The Master at Arms had the third highest authority on the pirate ship. He was experienced in combat, and war strategy and was responsible for coordinating the crew while attacking or boarding a merchant ship.
Boatswain/Bosun
The Boatswains were the junior officers who oversaw all the operations onboard a pirate ship. The duties held by the Boatswains depended widely on the size of the crew and ship.
The boatswains were highly attached to the ship and took care of the sails, lines, weighting, anchors, and rigging.
The most experienced sailor on the ship was usually made the Master Boatswain who reported directly to the Captain and the Quartermaster.
Sailing Master
The role of the Sailing Master was to keep to navigate and keep the ship on the correct course. It was a tough job as the charts during the golden age of piracy were largely inaccurate. The navigation depended exclusively on the skill of the Sailing Master, making them absolutely crucial.
Sailing Master was a well-paid job on non-pirate ships as it required knowledge of astronomy, the position of ocean currents, and the calculator of latitude to identify the location of the ship.
Gunner
Gunners led small groups of men who worked with artillery onboard ships. It required years of practice for someone to become a good gunner, especially on a pirate ship.
For one canon to operate efficiently, several men were required to aim, fire, reset, and load. The gun crews consisted of the first Gunner, second Gunner, loading gunner, deputy loading gunner, wiper, deputy wipers, and a powder monkey.
Cannon has a high recoil and could easily overheat. It was a tough job with a high likelihood of accidents despite taking all precautions.
Therefore, the gunner with the most experience on the ship was appointed as Master Gunner to prevent random fire by the cannon crews and minimize accidents. He also gave the order to fire in the absence of the captain.
Powder Monkey
Typically, powder monkeys were male youths who were selected for their agility and height, usually between the ages of 12 and 14. Their primary responsibility was to transport gunpowder from the ship’s powder magazine to the artillery pieces. This was done to reduce the possibility of fires and explosions.
Treated harshly, they did the most dangerous job on the ship and moved in between the decks to keep them out of sight from the sharpshooters of the enemy ship.
They were short and could move more quickly in the limited space between decks and hide behind the ship’s gunwale, keeping them from being shot by enemy ships’ sharpshooters.
Though they sailed on naval ships, Powder Monkeys did not get an official rank. They faced mistreatment, received little or no pay, and were considered easily disposable. The prospects of promotion for powder monkeys were dim, leading many to abandon their posts.
Doctor/Surgeon
Most pirate ships did not have a doctor onboard. The ships were most likely infested by pests such as rats, lice, and cockroaches, while the food on the pirate ship was kept in extremely unhygienic conditions, acting as a never-ending source of diseases.
Therefore, having a professional doctor on the crew was a luxury only a few pirate ships might have had. Those that had doctors onboard probably forced them into service.
The pirate ship and its crew engaged in countless battles during its life at sea. In the absence of adequate medicines, any wound had the potential to lead to an infection, making amputations a common procedure in order to save a patient’s life.
Most ships gave this duty to carpenters or cooks as they had the most knowledge of using necessary tools in the absence of a real doctor.
Carpenter
The carpenters were in charge of ensuring the ship stayed afloat by maintaining and repairing it, including during battles. As members of the damage control team, the carpenters would quickly respond to any leaks on the boat to restore the ship’s functionality and bring it to shore for swift and effective repairs.
Additionally, they would also be responsible for carrying out amputations in the absence of a doctor.
Cook
Cooks on the pirate ships were usually not professional cooks. They were just crewmembers who were given the role of preparing food.