Benjamin Hornigold was born in 1680 and little is documented about his early years and did not enter the field of piracy until he was 33 years old. His main area of plundering was the Bahamas and was part of the founding of a "Republic of Pirates". With a flagship called the Ranger armed with 30 cannons was said to be one of the most formidable in the region. It is noted his second officer during this time was none other than Edward Teach, who in his own story was called "Blackbeard". Even with the intimidating supremacy of his ship chose not to attack British vessels as he considered himself to be a privateer under the protection of England against the Spanish. This decision was not unanimous by much of the crew and in 1717 decided to mutiny to engage in piracy against anyone they chose even England.

He was put on a small craft by the men now he had once led and made his way to Jamaica and for his refusal to attack British ships was pardoned by King George. In 1718 a proclamation gave pirates an expunged record but placed a bounty on those declared guilty of piracy, and treason. Hornigold now had the opportunity which he accepted to become a pirate hunter of which were even former crewmates such as Blackbeard. He was later tasked to protect trade ships with Spain and in one of these voyages was set upon by a hurricane was scuttled on a reef and perished with most of his crew.