Bartholomew Roberts
Bartholomew Roberts (17 May 1682 – 10 February 1722), born John Roberts, was a Welsh pirate who was, measured by vessels captured, the most successful pirate of the Golden Age of Piracy. During his piratical career, he took over 400 prize ships. Roberts raided ships off the Americas and the West African coast between 1719 and 1722; he is also noted for creating his own pirate code, and adopting an early variant of the Skull and Crossbones flag.
Bartholomew Roberts | |
|---|---|
| Born | 17 May 1682 Casnewydd Bach, Pembrokeshire, Kingdom of England |
| Died | 10 February 1722 (aged 39) At sea off of Cape Lopez (present-day Gabon) |
| Cause of death | Grapeshot wound to the throat suffered during naval battle |
| Resting place | At sea near Cape Lopez |
| Known for | Being the most successful pirate in the Golden Age of Piracy |
| Piratical career | |
| Nickname | Black Bart (Welsh: Barti Ddu) |
| Type | Pirate |
| Allegiance | None |
| Years active | 1719–1722 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Base of operations | Off the coast of the Americas and West Africa |
| Commands | Royal Rover, Fortune, Good Fortune, Royal Fortune, Ranger, Little Ranger |
| Wealth | 400 vessels |
Roberts's infamy and success saw him become known as The Great Pyrate and eventually as Black Bart (Welsh: Barti Ddu), and made him a popular subject for writers of both fiction and non-fiction. To this day, Roberts continues to feature in popular culture, and has inspired fictional characters (such as the Dread Pirate Roberts).