KIDD, WILLIAM (e.1650-1701). A British navigator. the notorious Captain Kidd of piratical fame. The son of a Scottish Nonconformist min ister. he was horn probably at Greenock. Scot land. about 1650. He went to sea at an early age, became a trader out of New York, and in the war between England and France. in the early part of the reign of William III., commanded a com missioned vessel in the West Indies, and was noted for his bravery. In 1691 the Connell of New York awarded him I:130 for services ren dered the Colony. In 1(393 he was appointed by the Earl of Bellomont, Governor of the Provinee of New York, to assist in suppressing piracy, and iveeived two commissions from the King. one as a privateer against the French. and the other a roving commission to pursue and capture pirates wherever lie might find them. He sailed from Plymouth, England, April, 11396, in a galley called the .1(Irchture, carrying thirty 121111.5 and a crew of eighty men. After proceeding to New York he increased his crew to 155 men and ,ailed for Madeira, thence to Saint Jago, Madagascar, Malabar, and the lied Sea. Ile had not been very successful in capturing vessels, and rumors ar rived that he had turned pirate. According to evidence amassed he firs took some small Moor ish vessels, then fought a Portuguese man-of-war, which defeated him, and finally raptured a Portu guese ship trout Bengal, and an Armenian vessel, the Quedaylt Herehont, with a rich cargo. At Madagaseat he binned his vessel, and went on board the Armenian, afterward purchasing the sloop Antonio. and sailing in company. Proceed
ing to New York, lie coasted from Delaware Bay to Block Island, corresponding with the Earl of Belloment in the meantime. lie had learned that he had been proclaimed a pirate and boldly went to Boston to know the truth. delivering up to the Governor 1111 ounces (.4 gold. 2333 ounces of silver, 57 bags of sugar, 41 bales of goods, and 17 pieces of canvas acquired by his captures. On July 6, 1600, however, in accordance with the British proeiamation, Kidd was arrested, the immediate charge against him being that of mur der, lie having killed a gunner on board the Ad ventu•e who had become mutinous. He was sent to England, and in April, 1700. was tried, and although the evidence was inconclusive and the proefedings marked by injustice, was found guilty of murder, and, on five separate indictments, of piracy. Kidd was allowed no counsel and his explanations were ignored. Ile was condemned and hanged with several of his companions at Execution Dock, London, on May 23, i711, pro testing his innocence to the la-t. After Kidd's death it became rumored about that he and his crew had buried immense treasures prior to his capture, and the coast of the United States from Block Island :south, and even islands in the Hudson River, have many times been sea•ehed fruitlessly for this rumored wealth. Ile had buried part of the Qucthigh Merchant's treasure on Gardiner's Island off Moutank Point. L. 1., but this was recovered by the colonial authorities in 11,09.