Bartholomew Roberts (c. 1682 - February 10, 1722), also known as Black
Bart, was one of the most notorious pirates of his day. Born at
Casnewydd-Bach (Little Newcastle) near Haverfordwest in Pembrokeshire
Wales, he is believed to have had one of the most successful pirating
careers in history. Bartholomew Roberts captured several hundred
vessels, and sometimes even as many as twenty-two at the time. His
pirating career started at age 37, when he shipped as second mate
aboard the slave ship Princess, which was captured by pirate captain
Howel Davis at Anomabu on the Gold Coast (present-day Ghana). Within
six weeks of his capture, Roberts, a tall dark man, was elected
captain of the pirate ship Rover, following the demise of captain
Davis at the island of Príncipe.

His career as pirate captain abruptly ended in February, 1722 off Cape
Lopez, Gabon, when he was killed aboard his flagship the Royal
Fortune. Roberts was killed by grapeshot cannon fire, which struck him
in the neck, while he was battling captain Chaloner Ogle's company of
HMS Swallow. HMS Swallow was a man-of-war which was sent to West
Africa, to capture and arrest pirates. Before his body could be
captured by Ogle, Roberts' wish to be buried at sea was fulfilled by
his crew, who threw his body overboard.
