Robert Deal

Robert Deal (died 1721) was a pirate active in the Caribbean. He is best known for his association with Charles Vane.

History

Charles Vane refused King George’s offer of pardon to all pirates who surrendered by September 1718, sailing away from Nassau aboard his brigantine with first mate (and former Royal Navy sailor

Vane’s company looted Eleuthera then captured another brigantine and a sloop, which he kept.

Vane and Deal fitted out the sloop for piracy, sailing toward Jamaica. They captured two periaguas and another sloop, which Deal took command of.

While awaiting his fate, Vane learned that a warship had captured Deal some months earlier. Deal faced trial in January 1721, where he claimed he had accepted the King’s Pardon but it “had been taken from him and torn to pieces by the pirates.” Rogers’ successor Nicholas Lawes found Deal guilty on the testimony of several witnesses, and Deal was hanged at Port Royal. A newspaper report called him "an Old Offender" and said Deal "died very penitent." Vane's own execution followed shortly after.