The Pirate's Realm

Emmanuel Wynne is often given credit for starting the Jolly Roger craze around 1700 with his skull and crossbones on a classic black background, accompanied by an hourglass image. The forerunner had been a white cross on a black flag.

"British Admiralty Records, in the Public Records Office in the UK show, in a report dated 18 July 1700, that HMS Poole, commanded by Captain John Cranby, engaged Wynn's ship off the Cape Verde islands. Cranby chased Wynn into a cove at Brava Island but, asssited by Portuguese soldiers, Wynn escaped Poole. Buy Flag (more info) Most historians agree that Cranby's account is the first mention of a Jolly Roger, which Cranby described as "a sable ensigne with cross bones, a death's head, and an hour glass." Wynne is believed to be the first (or some sources contend one of the first) pirate to fly the now familiar form of the jolly roger. His flag, showing the distinctive skull and crossbones motif, was augmented with another common pirate symbol: an hourglass (meant to signify to his prey that only by timely surrender could they evade death). In the anime series One Piece, Don Krieg has a similiar flag.

Wynne began his piratical career raiding English merchantmen off the coast of the Province of Carolina near the end of the 17th century. He later moved to the more profitable waters of the Caribbean, attacking both English and Spanish ships."

"Emanuel Wynn." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 16 Feb 2007, 09:04 UTC. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 21 Feb 2007 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Emanuel_Wynn&oldid=108569134>.