John Rackham (21 December 1682 - 18 November 1720), commonly known as Calico Jack, was an English pirate captain operating in the Bahamas during the early 18th century (Rackham is often spelled as Rackam or Rackum in historical documentation). Rackham is most remembered for two things: the design of his Jolly Roger flag, a skull with crossed swords, which contributed to the popularisation of the design, and for having two female crew members (Mary Read and Rackham's lover Anne Bonny). Read more