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Treasures for the Gentleman Pirate
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items Come close and let me tell you a story whispered on the salt-sprayed winds of history. This list is inspired by the legend of Major Drake, my tribute to one of the strangest characters from the Golden Age of Piracy: the real-life "Gentleman Pirate," ...
Imagine a man of wealth and education, a respected Major with a fine sugar plantation in Barbados, who one day decides to throw it all away. Instead of stealing a ship, he bought one. Instead of forcing a crew into service, he hired them and paid wag...
It was in that moment of bitter loss that Major Drake's famous motto was born—a defiant declaration of independence: "This Duck Doesn't Give a Ship!"
This hoard is a collection of the comforts, tools, and tales the Major himself might have gathered to furnish his cabin and his mind. It’s for anyone with a rebellious streak, a love for hidden histories, and an appreciation for the fact that the mos...
Imagine a man of wealth and education, a respected Major with a fine sugar plantation in Barbados, who one day decides to throw it all away. Instead of stealing a ship, he bought one. Instead of forcing a crew into service, he hired them and paid wag...
It was in that moment of bitter loss that Major Drake's famous motto was born—a defiant declaration of independence: "This Duck Doesn't Give a Ship!"
This hoard is a collection of the comforts, tools, and tales the Major himself might have gathered to furnish his cabin and his mind. It’s for anyone with a rebellious streak, a love for hidden histories, and an appreciation for the fact that the mos...
Sections
3
The Captain's Cabin - Comforts for a Life at Sea
The Scholar's Desk - Provisions for a Rebellious Mind
Whispers of the Legend - A Deeper Dive for Kindred Spirits
The Captain's Cabin - Comforts for a Life at Sea
Every captain, no matter how reluctant, needs a sanctuary. This is a gathering of the creature comforts and atmospheric essentials Major Drake would have kept close in his cabin aboard the Revenge. These are the pieces that make a ship a home, offeri...
This is where it all started! It’s the perfect vessel for a defiant morning brew or a contemplative evening tea as you plot your own small rebellions. It features the Major's portrait on one side and his hard-won motto on the other.
Major Drake: The Gentleman Pirate Duck Mug
Every adventurer needs a place to chronicle their tales. I designed this journal to feel like an artifact from his world, a space for your own whispered legends, grand plans, and the stories you are waiting to tell.
Major Drake's Logbook: A Gentleman Pirate's Journal
A Gentleman Pirate would have used natural beeswax candles as they burn cleaner than paraffin
100% Pure Beeswax Taper Candles (Lasts 10 Hours Each) - 8.5" x 7/8" Handmade, All Natural, Unscented Bees Wax Dipped Style by Bee The Light
To create the right atmosphere, you need the right light. A gentleman of the 18th century would have used candlelight, and these pure beeswax pillars burn brighter and cleaner than paraffin, with a subtle, natural honey scent that feels so authentic ...
Beeswax Candles | Etsy
I imagine the air in the Major's cabin would have smelled of sea salt, old books, and woodsmoke. This tea captures that feeling perfectly. Its smoky flavor evokes campfires and gunpowder, and the type of tea it's based on, Bohea, was so popular in th...
Smoky Lapsang Souchong Black Tea
A true gentleman, even a pirate one, wouldn't drink his rum straight from the bottle. This beautiful crystal decanter, with its wide, stable base designed to stay put on a rocking ship, is exactly the kind of refined touch the Major would have insist...
Godinger Silver Art Co Dublin Crystal Captains Decanter 40oz & Reviews | Wayfair
If you can afford an antique rummer, go for it. If not, here's an affordable alternative.
Villeroy & Boch Boston Saffron Water Glass, Set of 4, 13.5 ozs | Wayfair
Even in the Caribbean, nights at sea can be cool. A proper wool blanket feels like a piece of home. I imagine the Major, a British gentleman far from his origins, would have kept a throw for a touch of familiar comfort.
Johanna Howard Home & Accessories Cozi Throw & Reviews | Wayfair
The Scholar's Desk - Provisions for a Rebellious Mind
Before he was a pirate, the Major was a man of "liberal education". His desk wasn't for charting courses—he was a dreadful navigator—but for wrestling with his thoughts. Here lie the tools for the reader, the writer, and the quiet revolutionary; the ...
To write in his logbook, the Major would have used a proper pen. A fountain pen just feels right for capturing grand thoughts. The Pilot Metropolitan is a beautiful, classic choice that’s perfect for beginners and feels much more special than a dispo...
Pilot Metropolitan Fountain Pen, Black Ink; Calligraphy Drawing Inking
A fine pen deserves fine paper. There's nothing worse than ink bleeding through the page. This high-quality, heavyweight paper is a dream to write on and makes the whole experience feel more thoughtful and deliberate.
Fountain Pen Paper, 50 Sheets, Light-Cream
This is pure historical whimsy! I can just picture Major Drake, a man who cared about appearances, meticulously sealing a letter with a compass or anchor wax seal before sending it off with a captured merchant ship. It’s a wonderfully theatrical touc...
Sailboat wax seal stamp kit, Adventure wax seal stamp, wedding envelope seal, Sailboat wax stamp kit, Stars Wax seal stamp Gift
If you want to understand the world Major Bonnet inhabited, this book is essential. It's a brilliant and true account of the golden age of piracy and the real-life figures, including Stede Bonnet, who created a short-lived democratic society in the C...
The Republic of Pirates by Colin Woodard | Waterstones
This book dives into the romance versus the reality of pirate life, which is the absolute core of the Major's story. He was a man seduced by the romance of piracy who was then crushed by its harsh reality. A fascinating and essential read for underst...
Under the Black Flag: The Romance and the Reality of Life Among the...
These stickers have the look of a wax seal but without the mess.
Nautical Anchor Last Name Monogram Wax Seal Sticker
Whispers of the Legend - A Deeper Dive for Kindred Spirits
Every story has deeper currents. For those who wish to sail beyond the horizon, this part of the hoard contains the primary sources, the hidden tales, and the very sounds of the sea. These are not just recommendations; they are keys to unlocking the ...
For the truly curious, this is the definitive biography of the man who inspired my Major Drake design. It uses primary sources and trial transcripts to tell the full, unbelievable story of Stede Bonnet. It’s the ultimate deep dive.
The Life and Tryals of the Gentleman Pirate, Major Stede Bonnet by Jeremy R Moss | Waterstones
This is one of the greatest swashbuckling adventure novels ever written. It’s a thrilling tale of a doctor who is wrongly enslaved and becomes a legendary pirate captain. It has all the romance and adventure that likely first tempted the Major to sea...
Captain Blood by Rafael Sabatini | Waterstones
A masterpiece of sea literature about obsession and the awesome power of nature. It’s a deep, philosophical adventure that I think the educated, contemplative side of Major Drake would have appreciated during long voyages.
Moby-Dick by Herman Melville | Waterstones
A fantastic podcast that tells the stories of people you might not know from history. Their episode "Stede Bonnet, the Gentleman Pirate" is a wonderful, free way to hear the story told by the author of his biography, Jeremy R. Moss. Perfect for liste...
Unsung History | Podcast
No life at sea is complete without music! A playlist of rousing and melancholic sea shanties to serve as the perfect soundtrack for reading about the Major's adventures. You'll find classics like "Drunken Sailor" and "Leave Her Johnny" that set the p...
Pirate Songs and Sea Shanties | Spotify
To go with your tea! The Major was a man of refinement, and I can imagine him missing the finer things.
Fine French Macaroones | 19th century macaroons recipe
Founded in 1703, this is the oldest rum distillery in Barbados. Here's their heritage page if you wanted to learn more.
Mount Gay Rum | Heritage