Which Assassin's Creed protagonist is the captain of the Jackdaw?

The Assassin's Creed protagonist who captains the Jackdaw is Edward Kenway. Edward is the central character of Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, released in 2013, and begins the story as a Welsh privateer seeking fortune in the Caribbean.

The Jackdaw is Edward's ship and his main base of operations. Players sail it through a large Caribbean world, using it for exploration, trade, naval combat, and boarding actions. The ship is upgraded with money and materials collected during the campaign.

Edward is the father of Haytham Kenway and the grandfather of Ratonhnhaké:ton, also known as Connor, the protagonist of Assassin's Creed III. That family connection makes Black Flag part of a larger Kenway storyline, although Edward's personality and goals differ sharply from those of his descendants.

Edward Thatch, better known as Blackbeard, is another important pirate in the game, but he is not the protagonist or captain of the Jackdaw. That similarity in names is a common source of confusion.