Robert Maynard
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Robert Maynard was a lieutenant in the British Royal Navy, captain of HMS Pearl, and is most famous for defeating the infamous pirate Blackbeard in battle.
Governor Alexander Spotswood of the colony of Virginia gave Maynard the command of two sloops. Maynard finally caught up to Blackbeard at Ocracoke Inlet off the coast of North Carolina on November 21, 1718. Blackbeard struck first, firing a cannon and killing several of Maynard's sailors. However, Maynard struck back by hiding many of the surviving crew belowdecks, making Blackbeard think he had wrought more damage than he actually had. When Blackbeard boarded Maynard's ship, he was ambushed. During the battle, Maynard and Blackbeard ended up in a duel. Blackbeard fought extremely hard, taking 20 cutlass wounds and five pistol shots before he finally fell. Maynard beheaded Blackbeard, tied the head to the prow of his ship, and set sail for Virginia.
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