George Lowther (pirate)
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George Lowther (? - 1723) was an 18th century English pirate who, although little is known of his life, was active in the Caribbean and Atlantic.
Not much is known about him until he became the 2nd Mate on the slave ship, Gambia Castle, he was under the command of Captain Charles Russell. Lowther had been more liked by the crew than Russell, who cared more about the shipment of slaves then the diseased crew. Russell distrusted Lowther and when he went to flog (beat) him many crew members took Lowther’s side and defended him, this caused a split between the captain and the crew.
Also onboard, after retreating from their fort, was Captain Massey with a large group of soldiers under his command. Massey and Lowther decided one night while Captain Russell was off the ship to set sail without him. Massey intended to go back to England but George, the crew, and his own soldiers disagreed. Lowther was made Captain and renamed the Gambia Castle the Delivery. They attacked many ships but when Massey wanted to pillage a village, he lost the vote because the risk was too large. Captain Lowther was able to obtain a smaller ship, named the Happy Delivery, and parted ways with Massey and his men.
He left to the Carolinas where Lowther’s strategy was to careen his ship into another while his men boarded the ship and looted it. Around 1721 he left for the Grand Caymans were he ran into the Greyhound captained by Benjamin Edwards. Lowther gave a cannon shot for a signal. Greyhound responded with a Broadside, (simultaneous discharge of all cannons on a side of a ship.) The Pirates boarded the Greyhound and may have killed the entire crew (it is unsure) and burnt the ship. Lowther had many ships under his command now, but when he went to Guatemala his men were attacked by natives and some ships and men were left behind.
His men and supplies were all transferred to the Revenge. By 1722 he became better off and went to a secluded island called Blanquilla. Before he landed he was spotted by Walter Moore the commander of the Eagle. George was able to flee to the island by sneaking through the cabin window with about a dozen men, only four made it. After a long time Captain George Lowther was found with a gun in his hand after shooting himself in the head.
