William Burke

William Burke (died 1699, first name occasionally Thomas, last name occasionally Burk, Burt, Bourck, Burch, or Burcke) was an Irish pirate and trader active in the Caribbean and near Newfoundland, best known for aiding William Kidd.

History

Burke had been active through early 1699 as a pirate off Newfoundland in his 140-man, 24-gun

In May 1699 he visited Governor Lorentz of St. Thomas offering to fence goods from William Kidd, who had been in the area to sell off his remaining plunder and sell or replace his leaking ship Quedagh Merchant (which Kidd had renamed Adventure Prize). Governor Lorentz had Burke arrested on June 1, though he was released a week later; Van Belle paid Burke's fines.