Before those pirates that have now become famous through modern films and theme park rides, such as Edward "Blackbeard" Teach, Anne Bonny, "Calico" Jack Rackham, Charles Vane and "Black" Bart Roberts, there existed another group of sea robbers now known as the Buccaneers. These terrible pirates carried out their depredations from the mid to the late 17th century, largely targeting the Spanish ships and colonies that dominated the New World at the time. First published in 1861 and drawn from the few first-hand accounts that have survived from those times, this work describes the origins of these raiders on the island of Hispaniola, and goes into detail on the motivations, lives, and exploits of the greatest captains of the breed: Sir Henry Morgan, Peter the Great, Lolonnois the Cruel, Alexandre Bras-De-Fer, Montbars the Exterminator, Ravenau de Lussan, Richard Sawkins, Bartholomew Sharp, and William Dampier.