Captain Benjamin Hornigold, a pirate, was active for a short time only, 1716 - 1717. His ship was the starting point for many of the more famous pirates.

Captain Hornigold left New Providence Island in the Bahamas with Edward Teach (aka Blackbeard) among his crew. He captured a sloop, which Teach became captain of. They plundered six ships in 1717 off the American coast and raided in the Caribbean. By the year's end, they had seized a French ship laden with gold, jewels, and other booty, after which they parted company.

Teach went to America and Captain Hornigold to New Providence. When Woodes Rogers was appointed governor of the Bahamas, Captain Hornigold asked for and received a pardon. Rogers thought highly of Hornigold and commissioned him to hunt pirates. Hornigold pursued John Auger , among others. Circa 1719, Hornigold was sent to Mexico on a trading voyage. Captain Hornigold's ship struck a reef far from land, and the entire crew was lost.