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During a trading trip to England, Kidd was offered a privateer's commission for the purpose of attacking pirates. Four-fifths of the cost for the venture was paid for by noble lords, who were amongst the most powerful men in the kingdom; the Earl of Orford, The Baron of Romney, the Duke of Shrewsbury and Sir John Somers. Kidd and an acquaintance, Colonel Robert Livingston paid for the rest. Kidd had to sell his ship the Antigua to raise funds.

The new ship, the Adventure Galley, was well suited to the task of catching pirates; it was equipped with 36 cannons and 70 men. However Kidd’s enterprise was not a success. He became desperate to cover the costs of his enterprise and under pressure from his men he started taking any vessels which were not English. Legally he was only allowed to take French and pirate vessels. As the voyage progressed Kidd’s actions became increasingly more like those of a pirate than an agent of the King.

On October 30, 1697 a dispute broke out with one William Moore. In a subsequent fight Kidd threw an ironbound bucket at Moore which killed him. At this juncture, he finally made up his mind to commence his own career in piracy.

On January 30, 1698Events January 4 Palace of Whitehall in London is destroyed by fire. June 19 Volcano of Carguarazon erupts in the Andes and causes a rain of fish August 25 Peter the Great arrives back to Moscow general Gordon has already crushed the streltsy rebellion 34 he took an English ship called the Quedah Merchant. While approaching the Ship he raised French colours. The merchant ship on seeing his French colours pretended to be French. Kidd took his prize and only later realised that he had in fact captured an English ship. Kidd tried to persuade his crew to return the ship to its owners but they refused.

On April 1, 1698 Kidd reached MadagascarSee also Madagascar (movie) Madagascar is an island nation in the Indian Ocean, off the eastern coast of Africa. Madagascar is the 4th largest island in the world. It is the home of five percent of the world's plant and animal species, 80 per cent of them. Here Kidd found the first pirate of his voyage, Robert CullifordRobert Culliford was an English pirate who was the former first mate of Captain William Kidd before spearheading a mutiny to steal Kidd's first ship and crew. Kidd later on attempted to capture Culliford as a pirate hunter, but his crew forced him to go p and his crew sailing the Mocha Frigate. Kidd ordered his men to capture the Mocha Frigate. Instead his men mutinied and joined the pirates of the Mocha Frigate. Only 13 of Kidd’s men remained loyal to him.

Kidd decided to return home, he left the Adventure Galley behind ordering her to be burnt and returned home in the captured Quedah Merchant. When Kidd returned to New York City, he was arrested and placed in Stone Prison . He was later sent to England to stand trial for piracy and the murder of William Moore. Whilst awaiting trial he was imprisoned in the infamous Newgate PrisonNewgate Prison is one of the most infamous prisons of English history. The prison was built at Newgate in 1188 on the orders of Henry I, and was significantly enlarged in 1236. It was used for a number of purposes including imprisoning people awaiting exe. He was found guilty on all charges and was hangedHanging is a form of capital punishment / execution, or a method for suicide. Hanging may involve breaking of the neck (drop-hanging; causing instant unconsciousness without breathing, and quick death), or one or more of the following: closing the airway on May 23, 1701 in LondonLondon is the capital of the United Kingdom and of England, and with over seven million inhabitants in the Greater London area, is the second-most populous conurbation in Europe (after Moscow). From being Londinium the capital of the Roman province of Bri. His body was left to hang in an iron cage over the river Thames, London, as a warning to future pirates. Kidd's WhigThis article is about the British Whig party. For information about the American Whig party, see United States Whig Party. For information about the Liberian Whig party, see Whig (Liberia). For a long time in British politics, the two main parties were th backers were embarrassed by his trial.