Edward Newgate, also known as Whitebeard, is the captain of the Whitebeard Pirates.
He is part of the Yonko, the 4 emperors of the New World, alongside Big Mom, Blackbeard, Kaidou and Red-Haired Shanks. The Yonko are part of the San Dai Seiryoku, the Three Great Powers. The other two great powers are the Marine Headquarters and the Shichibukai, the seven warlords of the sea.
Whitebeard is said to be the strongest man in the world and the pirate closest to obtaining the legendary treasure, One Piece. It is said that Whitebeard used to have numerous battles with the late Pirate King, Gol D. Roger, and was marked as his equal in the past.
Whitebeard appears to have some health problems, possibly stemming from his advanced age or from his ferocious encounters with other great pirates during his earlier days. He is always surrounded by nurses and is hooked up to intravenous tubes. But despite this, he still drinks rum by (and directly from) the barrel. Even with his health issues, he is still considered the world's strongest pirate, which raises the question of how powerful he must have been in his prime.
He was a cheerful and carefree person during his younger years, prior to commanding his own ship and becoming known as Whitebeard. Due to being an orphan who grew up in poverty, Newgate has a strong desire for a family. In adulthood, unlike his comrades who loved treasure and riches, he only desired a family and saw that as the greatest treasure.
