James Kidd (real name Mary Read) was a pirate, assassin, and a major character in Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag. Beginning her career as a sailor in her teens, Read was eventually granted a position in the Royal Navy, where she met her first husband. After her husband's death, Read set sail for the West Indies and began dressing as a man under the alias James Kidd.
After meeting the Mentor of the Caribbean Assassins, Ah Tabai, she joined the Assassin Order and began her pirate career, where she met and aided Edward Kenway in his quest. In 1720, while she was sailing with Jack Rackham and Anne Bonny, Read met a young man and became pregnant. Soon after the ship was captured and the women were set to be executed, but due to their pregnancies the execution was stayed and Read died soon after the birth from infection.