George Booth was a British pirate working in the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea. Among its crew were several pirates who would later become prominent captains, including Nathaniel North, Thomas Howard, and Booth's successor, John Bowen. The Speaker pirate ship is one of the ships captured by Booth. Famous pirate George Booth died in 1701.

Road to Speaker Ship

Famous pirate George Booth was first recorded as an artilleryman in 1696 at Pelican under the command of Captain Robert Colley. Later, he was assigned to Dolphin under the command of Captain Samuel Inless operating in the Indian Ocean. The pirate Booth's ship and several other pirate ships, who took part as artillery on this mission, were sent to St. Petersburg by a British fleet in September 1699. He was trapped on Mary's Island. The crew was pardoned by the British commander. Some of the famous pirates like Robert Culliford accepted the offer of amnesty. But, Booth, North, and the others escaped after burning the ship. Booth and his friends, who escaped and started piracy, behaved like merchants. Following the famous order of pirate ships, they captured a French merchant ship, demanding the trade of liquor and other goods for the slave. Pirate Booth was named the captain of the captured ship. Then the looting pirates sailed to Madagascar.

The Capture of the Speaker

Booth encountered British pirate John Bowen. In this encounter, the famous pirates decided to join forces. In April 1699, the pirate troop captured the Speaker, which was among the 450-ton 50 armed slaves and pirate ships near Majunga. Elected captain of the 54-armed Speakership, Booth set sail for Zanzibar in late 1700. In early 1701 he paused his journey to save the pirate Thomas Howard. Howard was a member of John James' crew. James's ship was wrecked after returning to the Cape of Good Hope. Tom Collins, who later set out with Howard, joined Booth's crew.

Stocks of food and drinks ran out as the pirate ship advanced. It was necessary to shop for the crew to continue their work. Speakership stopped at Zanzibar to get supplies. Booth and Bowen were attacked by Arab troops on their way ashore. Booth was killed in the clash between them. After Booth's death, Bowen was chosen by the crew to replace Booth as captain of the small fleet.