Rhett House

Names in honor of Colonel William Rhett, a native Charlestonian who in 1706 commanded a flotilla that fought off a Spanish attack on Charleston. Colonel Rhett's greatest service to the city came more than a decade later. In the early to mid 1700's Charleston was often threatened by pirates that would sail in the wealthy seaport and commander ships carrying goods in and out of the city. Colonel Rhett gained great notoriety for capturing Stede Bonnet, one of the most famous pirates that frequented Charleston harbor. Colonel Rhett led a naval expedition against Bonnet and his men, which culminated in the battle of Cape Fear. Bonnet and his men were returned to Charleston by Colonel Rhett where faced trials and ultimately were executed in 1718 at White Point Gardens which is today Charleston's famed Battery.