Both the captain and the quartermaster were popularly elected by the crew and could be readily deposed if they overstepped their narrowly circumscribed authority, creating a democratic check on pirate leadership.

factualpending

Speaker

Peter Leeson

Evidence Quote

both of these guys were popularly elected by the crew and just as importantly if they went outside their bounds... they could be popularly deposed and were readily deposed as well

Source

Peter Leeson on Pirates and the Invisible Hook 05/25/2009EconTalk
Created: 6/17/2026, 10:31:31 AM

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