This timeline of the history of piracy in the 1680s is a chronological list of key events involving pirates between 1680 and 1689.
Events
1680
Bartholomew Sharp embarks on the "Pacific Adventure", a raid on Spanish settlements on the South American west coast. One crewman, Basil Ringrose, writes an account of the expedition, later published by Alexandre Exquemelin. James Misson, Signor Caraccioli and Thomas Tew discover Libertatia on the island of Madagascar. John Williams captures James Kelley on a slave ship off the coast of West Africa, making him a crewmember. April 15 – Landing on the Isthmus of Darien, John Coxen leads 331 buccaneers, including Bartholomew Sharp, William Dampier, Lionel Wafer, Basil Ringrose, William Dick and John Cox, divided into five groups consisting of Bartholomew Sharp, Richard Sawkins, Peter Harris, John Coxon and Edmund Cook. Marching towards the Spanish stronghold of Santa Maria the buccaneers first met with the Mosquito Indians who had reported it contained a large amount of gold dust. The Spaniards, however, had been warned of their approach and had sent the gold to Panama so by the time the buccaneers reached Santa Maria most of the party were in favour of stealing out on the Pacific Ocean in the Mosquito's canoes. While Coxon and his party were against the proposal, he was persuaded to stay and keep command of the expedition. April 19–20 – Travelling in canoes into the Bay of Panama, the buccaneers capture a Spanish vessel of 30 tons as well as a small Spanish barque taken the following day. April 23 – Arriving at Panama the buccaneers encountered three Spanish warships, one of which was commanded by Captain Peralta who had previously fought against Sir Henry Morgan's raid on Panama a decade before, engaging in a day-long battle which ended after two of the Spanish ships were boarded thus forcing the remaining ship to retreat. There were 48 casualties consisting of 18 killed and 30 wounded, including Peter Harris who died ten days later. May – French buccaneer Michel de Grammont is joined by English privateers William Wright and Thomas Paine at Isla Blanca in a raid on Caracas successfully capturing the Caracas seaport of La Guayra. July – After taking the Caracas seaport of La Guayra the previous month, the buccaneers (under Michel de Granmont) are driven from Caracas by Spanish defenders. Dutch pirate Herbert Greaves is hanged near Walmer Castle.
1681
January – A mutiny is made against Bartholomew Sharp and John Watling is elected Captain. He attacks the Spanish settlement of Arica, Chile. He is heavily outnumbered by the Spanish, the attack fails and he is killed. Rev. Lancelot Blackburne, later becoming Archbishop of York, sails with buccaneers. John Alexander, an officer under Bartholomew Sharp, drowns at sea. May–August – William Wright along with eight other privateers, later joined an additional 50 English South Sea sailors, departs the San Blas Islands to raid the Spanish city of Cartago, Costa Rica however many of the privateers miss the rendezvous at San Andrés Island. Despite this setback Wright continues on with French privateers Captain Archambaud and Captain Toccart later capturing a Spanish tartane which he later gives to 30 of the South Sea sailors who refused to sail with the French privateer whom they had joined at San Blias. Sailing towards Corn Island and later Bluefield's River Wright leaves the French privateers. September – While at Boca del Toro Wright joined Dutch Captain Yankey Willems, who had no commission of war, and departed the city sailing along the coast of Colombia. Near Cartagena Yankey sized a Spanish ship with a large cargo of sugar and tobacco. Traveling to Curaçao the two attempted to sell the Spanish cargo but are forced to leave by the Dutch governor where they continued to the Aves Island and to the Islas Roques staying until February of the following year.