Which English pirate captain became governor of the Bahamas in 1718?

Woodes Rogers became governor of the Bahamas in 1718.

Rogers was a privateer, naval commander, and author who had circumnavigated the world before entering government service. The British Crown appointed him the first royal governor of the Bahamas, where Nassau had become a major pirate stronghold.

Rogers arrived with a royal pardon intended for pirates who surrendered. His administration attempted to restore British authority, suppress piracy, improve defenses, and organize the colony’s government. Several pirates accepted the pardon, while others resisted and continued raiding.

Rogers was not simply a pirate governor. He had commanded privateering expeditions authorized during wartime, a legal status distinct from piracy. His earlier voyage also made him a celebrated mariner in Britain before his appointment in Nassau.