Albert W. Hicks, who was also known by the aliases Elias W. Hicks, William Johnson, John Hicks, and "Pirate Hicks," was a notorious nineteenth-century criminal. Born around 1820, he was convicted as a triple murderer and subsequently became one of the last individuals to be executed for piracy in the United States. His execution was carried out on July 13, 1860.
In broader cultural history, Hicks is recognized as a transitional figure in the evolution of American underworld crime. Cultural historian Rich Cohen identifies him as the first legendary gangster figure of New York City. According to Cohen, Hicks represents a historical bridge, connecting the maritime piracy of the older world to the eventual rise of a new "gangster nation" within the United States.
