Blackbeard held the people of a whole city hostage — and asked for a chest of medicine.

1718

Once he got it, he released his captives and lifted the blockade of Charleston in May 1718.

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The event

• Blackbeard blockades Charleston1718 · Charleston. In May 1718 Edward Teach, known as Blackbeard, blockaded the port of Charleston for about a week, seizing ships and hostages. For ransom he demanded not gold but a chest of medicines — and got it. Six months later he was killed in a fight off Ocracoke Island.

18th century

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