Which pirate surrendered to Governor Woodes Rogers in 1718 and later became a pirate hunter?

The pirate who surrendered to Governor Woodes Rogers in 1718 and later became a pirate hunter was Benjamin Hornigold.

Benjamin Hornigold was an English pirate and privateer who operated from the Bahamas during the early eighteenth century. He was one of the leaders of the pirate community on New Providence and commanded crews that attacked Spanish and other merchant shipping. Edward Teach, later known as Blackbeard, served under him for a time.

When Woodes Rogers arrived in 1718 with a royal pardon, Hornigold accepted the offer and entered British service. Rogers then employed him to pursue pirates who rejected the pardon. This career change illustrates the uncertain boundary between privateering, piracy, and official naval enforcement in the Caribbean.

Hornigold’s later work involved hunting pirates around the Bahamas and nearby waters. He died in a hurricane around 1719 or 1720, although the exact date and circumstances are not firmly documented. He is therefore remembered both as a pirate leader and as a former pirate turned agent of the colonial government.