The Capture of “The Quedah Merchant”
Quedagh was an Indian ship, crewed by Armenians but the Captain was English - carrying passes from the French East India Company to assure safe passage backed by the French Crown. Confused yet??? The crew certainly wasn't.
Kidd futilely attempted to return the ship, but his crew refused. To them French Passes = French Ship...and those were fair game.
When news reached England, rumours that Kidd had turned pirate were "confirmed". And whether he knew it or not...Kidd's appointment with the gibbet was looming.
Visit the Museum of London Docklands (No. 1 Warehouse, West India Quay, London, United Kingdom) to learn more about the age of piracy and London's extensive maritime history.
📸 "Museum of London Docklands - West India Quay - Canary Wharf" by ell brown is licensed under CC BY 2.0