John Julian
Survivor, pirate wreck Whydah; captured & enslaved to John Quincy
About John Julian
Lived 1701 – 1733 (aged 31–32). John Julian was a pirate.
John Julian (March 26, 1733) was a pirate of multi-racial descent who operated in the Americas, as the pilot of the ship Whydah.
Julian joined pirate Samuel Bellamy, and became the pilot of Bellamy's Whydah when he was probably only 16 years of age.
In 1717, the Whydah shipwrecked, with Julian and a carpenter called Thomas Davis being the only known survivors. He was captured, but not indicted, so he was probably sold as a slave. He may have been the "Julian the Indian" bought by John Quincy, great-grandfather of president John Quincy Adams.
"Julian the Indian" reportedly made multiple attempts to flee and once killed a bounty hunter who was after him. He was executed in March 1733.
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Important facts
People in John Julian's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
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Contemporaries
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Frequently asked questions
Who was John Julian?
survivor, pirate wreck Whydah; captured & enslaved to John Quincy
When was John Julian born?
John Julian was born in 1701.
When did John Julian die?
John Julian died on 22 March 1733 in Boston.
What was John Julian's occupation?
John Julian was a pirate.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). John Julian. https://biography.guide/john-julian/
MLA: "John Julian." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/john-julian/.
Chicago: "John Julian." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/john-julian/.
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