What was the name of the ship commanded by Captain William Kidd on his famous 1696 voyage?

Captain William Kidd commanded Adventure Galley on his famous 1696 voyage. The English government commissioned Kidd to hunt pirates and enemy shipping in the Indian Ocean.

Adventure Galley was a purpose-built vessel launched in 1695. It combined sails and oars, a design intended to help it maneuver in calm conditions and pursue targets. Kidd sailed from England in 1696, but the expedition suffered from delays, illness, desertions, and disputes over the crew’s pay.

Kidd eventually captured Quedagh Merchant in 1698. He claimed the ship was a legitimate prize, but the seizure became the central issue in the prosecution that followed. Authorities later arrested Kidd and sent him to London, where he was tried and executed in 1701.

Adventure Galley is often confused with Kidd’s later vessel, the captured Quedagh Merchant, which he renamed Adventure Prize. The similar names reflect changing ownership rather than the same ship.