Edward Ingle

Captain Richard Ingle: the Maryland Pirate and Rebel, 1642-1653 (Dodo Press) Edward Ingle

Richard Ingle (1609-1653) was an English colonial seaman and tobacco trader in the American colonies who took over the government of the colony of Maryland in 1645. Most of his background is unknown. He became a trader and ship captain. He transported goods of Maryland traders from England and back and became prominent tobacco trader. When the English Civil War broke out, Ingle sided with the Puritans. He fell out with the catholic leaders of Maryland and then the royalist governor seized his ship, he escaped. He returned in 1645 with the ship Reformation, and attacked the Maryland colony in the name of Parliament. He sailed, attacked the settlement of St. Mary's and imprisoned leaders of the colony. He took control of the Maryland government. Under his leadership, his men looted property of wealthy Roman Catholic settlers. Ingle claimed that he had letter of marque to cruise in the waters of Shesapeake and the permission of a new government in England. Local settlers regarded him as a pirate.