Samuel Bellamy was born to working class parents in 17th-century England, but he died the richest pirate who ever lived.

The Pirate Queen musical premiered April 5 ... after the Golden Age of Piracy (1650s – 1730s), whether they were captured, killed, or lost everything, Ching Shih has a happier ending.

Ching Shih was born around 1775 in Canton (now Guangdong). At 26, she was captured by a famous pirate leader, Zheng Yi, whom she agreed to marry, but only if she became his equal business partner ...