Inspired by Marcel Schwob's "Imaginary Lives" I took to researching some of the more entertaining pirate histories (popular reading back in the day, and if "Pirates of the Caribbean" is any guide, as popular today...).
Of Note - The Pirate's Code:
I. Every man has a vote in affairs of moment; has equal title to the fresh provisions, or strong liquors, at any time seized, and may use them at pleasure, unless a scarcity makes it necessary, for the good of all, to vote a retrenchment.
II. Every man to be called fairly in turn, by list, on board of prizes because, (over and above their proper share,) they were on these occasions allowed a shift of clothes: but if they defrauded the company to the value of a dollar in plate, jewels, or money, marooning was their punishment. If the robbery was only betwixt one another, they contented themselves with slitting the ears and nose of him that was guilty, and set him on shore, not in an uninhabited place, but somewhere, where he was sure to encounter hardships.
III. No person to game at cards or dice for money.
IV. The lights and candles to be put out at eight o'clock at night: if any of the crew, after that hour still remained inclined for drinking, they were to do it on the open deck;
V. To keep their piece, pistols, and cutlass clean and fit for service.
VI. No boy or woman to be allowed amongst them. If any man were to be found seducing any of the latter sex, and carried her to sea, disguised, he was to suffer death;
VII. To desert the ship or their quarters in battle, was punished with death or marooning.
VIII. No striking one another on board, but every man's quarrels to be ended on shore, at sword and pistol.
IX. No man to talk of breaking up their way of living, till each had shared one thousand pounds. If in order to this, any man should lose a limb, or become a cripple in their service, he was to have eight hundred dollars, out of the public stock, and for lesser hurts, proportionately.
X. The Captain and Quartermaster to receive two shares of a prize: the master, boatswain, and gunner, one share and a half, and other officers one and quarter.
XI. The musicians to have rest on the Sabbath Day, but the other six days and nights, none without special favour.[44][45]
In short, the Pirate trade was not only lucrative, but one of the fairest around - far superior to the Royal Navy.
Start with Bartholomew Roberts, inspiration for "The Dread Pirate Roberts" in the Princess Bride
... a tall black [i.e. dark complexioned] Man, near forty Years of Age ... of good natural Parts, and personal Bravery, tho' he apply'd them to such wicked Purposes, as made them of no Commendation, frequently drinking 'Damn to him who ever lived to wear a Halter'.
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bartholomew_Roberts
And, my favorite: Captain Stede Bonnet, gentleman tobacco farmer who turned to Piracy to escape a nagging wife, only to end up being schooled by "Teach, or "Blackbeard".
In his Way he met with a Pyrate Sloop of ten Guns, commanded by one Major Bonnet, lately a Gentleman of good Reputation and Estate in the Island of Barbadoes, whom he joyned; but in a few Days after, Teach, finding that Bonnet knew nothing of a maritime Life, with the Consent of his own Men, put in another Captain, one Richards, to Command Bonnet’s Sloop, and took the Major on aboard his own Ship, telling him, that as he had not been used to the Fatigues and Care of such a Post, it would be better for him to decline it, and live easy and at his Pleasure, in such a Ship as his, where he should not be obliged to perform Duty, but follow his own Inclinations.
Wikipedia on Captain Stede Bonnet: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stede_Bonnet
Wikipedia on Blackbeard: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackbeard
Wikipedia on Captain Kidd: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Kidd
on Anne Bonny: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Bonny
on Calico Jack: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calico_Jack
on Henry Morgan: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Morgan
The original "A General History of the Pyrates", via Project Guttenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/40580/40580-h/40580-h.htm
Now, before this turns to into a long list of Pirates I'll just refer you onward to Wiki's list of Pirates: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_pirates
And their list of Pirate Flags: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jolly_Roger
And, finally, this article on the loot recovered from the wreck of Black Sam Bellamy's "Whydah" - an estimated $100 MILLION dollars worth of treasure found only 115 feet from shore and 30 feet down. Link: https://www.chron.com/neighborhood/bayarea/article/World-s-only-real-pirate-treasure-dug-up-and-5200102.php