Captain Kidd, born William Kidd in 1645, was a Scottish sailor and pirate known for his controversial career. Initially hired as a privateer to hunt pirates, he later turned to piracy himself. Kidd's most famous ship was the Adventure Galley, which he used to sail the waters of the Caribbean and the Indian Ocean. In 1701, Kidd was captured and brought to trial in England, where he was found guilty of piracy and murder. He was hanged in 1701, and his story has since become a part of pirate lore, often romanticized in literature and film, including the famous Treasure Island.