# History of Talk Like a Pirate Day: Ahoy, Matey!

> HISTORY OF INTERNATIONAL TALK LIKE A PIRATE DAY Podcast   International Talk Like a Pirate Day began not in the Golden Age of Pirates in days of yore but in 2002. It is celebrated each year on September 19; although it…
> URL: https://billpetro.com/history-of-talk-like-a-pirate-day/
> Last modified: 2026-09-19T03:07:39+00:00

Reading Time:   2 minutes
## HISTORY OF INTERNATIONAL TALK LIKE A PIRATE DAY

 [*Podcast*](https://open.spotify.com/episode/6Lj2L3qygHS0nH25M65gQ3?si=63856187642841c9)

 

**International Talk Like a Pirate Day** began not in the Golden Age of Pirates in days of yore but in 2002. It is celebrated each year on *September 19*; although it originated in the United States, it is now observed [internationally](http://www.yarr.org.uk/) across the Seven Seas.

 

Table of Contents

Toggle
- [The Tale of Talk Like a Pirate Day](#The_Tale_of_Talk_Like_a_Pirate_Day)
- [The Captain’s Log](#The_Captains_Log)
- [The Ironic History of Talking Like a Pirate](#The_Ironic_History_of_Talking_Like_a_Pirate)
- [Related](#Related)

### The Tale of Talk Like a Pirate Day

The legend goes that it originated on June 6, 1995, during a racquetball game between **John Baur** and **Mark Summers**, when pirate profanity was uttered following an injury. But because this was the observance of [D-Day](https://billpetro.com/history-of-d-day/), the date was set instead for September 19, the birthday of the ex-wife of one of the two founders. John, Mark, and their friends celebrated it in relative obscurity until one fateful day.

 

### The Captain’s Log

In 2002, the American humor writer and Pulitzer Prize winner **Dave Barry** wrote a newspaper article about it and [promoted](https://www.miamiherald.com/living/liv-columns-blogs/dave-barry/article1928052.html) the idea. The rest, as they say, is history. Unlike some of the newer Geek Holidays – such as [Pi Day](https://billpetro.com/history-pi-day/), [Foursquare Day](https://billpetro.com/history-of-global-social-media-holiday), or [Towel Day](https://billpetro.com/history-of-towel-day) – this holiday has gained traction among a broader audience, with growing media coverage, books, T-shirts, *merch*, and other booty.

The trademark has been non-restricted and is more what you’d call a “guideline” than an actual *rule*. The fact that *Hermione Granger’*s birthday in the [**Harry Potter**](https://billpetro.com/tag/harry-potter/) books is on September 19 shows that this parody holiday has gone viral.

 

### The Ironic History of Talking Like a Pirate

Robert Newton

Talking like a pirate is commonly attributed to the British actor **Robert Newton**, from his portrayal of *Long John Silver* in Disney’s live-action feature film **Treasure Island** (1950). His kind of quasi-West Country (often called ‘Cornish’) accent – pirates frequented **Penzance** in Cornwall, England – became popular with subsequent actors who portrayed pirates in film, television, theatre, and radio.

The modern holiday is described on the official site [here](https://talklikeapiratecom.wpcomstaging.com/).

There’s even a Facebook Page about it [here](https://www.facebook.com/InternationalTalkLikeAPirateDay).

*Why couldn’t the pirate graduate from 1st grade?*

*Because he only knew one letter… “ARRR!”*

 

Bill Petro, your friendly neighborhood historian

[billpetro.com](https://billpetro.com)

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