Which pirate discovered the wreck of the Whydah Gally off Cape Cod in 1984?

Barry Clifford discovered the wreck of the Whydah Gally off Cape Cod in 1984.

Clifford was a professional treasure hunter and diver who searched for the wreck for years. The Whydah had been a slave ship before pirate Samuel Bellamy captured it in 1717 and used it as his flagship. A storm sank the vessel off Wellfleet, Massachusetts, later that year.

The discovery was historically important because the Whydah became the first authenticated pirate shipwreck found in North America. Clifford recovered artifacts including cannons, coins, navigational objects, and the ship’s bell, which helped confirm the wreck’s identity.

A common mix-up is to credit the discovery to marine archaeologists who later studied the site. Clifford led the search and announced the find; subsequent archaeological work involved additional researchers and conservation specialists.