Folk Figure. Also known as Black Bart, he is perhaps the most feared pirate of all time. Born in Wales around 1682, he became a pirate the same way many others of the time did: he was pressed into service when his own ship was raided. After his likely service as a seaman in the War of Spanish Succession, he was already a master mariner by this time. When the pirate captain Howell Davis was killed in July 1719, Roberts was elected captain. The crew then voted to head for Brazil, and after Roberts guided the ship to a small island 2,300 miles away in under a month, he sailed into a 42-ship Portuguese convoy and looted the best prize before he could be stopped--including a diamond-studded gold cross meant for the King of Portugal that he wore until the end. Afterwards he continued to operate in the Caribbean despite Royal Navy ships specifically sent to stop him--and some of these actually sailed off rather than face him, such was his reputation. The end came on February 10, 1722, when Roberts was caught unexpectedly off Cape Lopez while trying to reach the island of Annabon. At first he mistook the Royal Navy ship for a merchantman, but once the fighting started he was killed in the first salvo. His body was thrown overboard, as per his wishes. In his career he had taken over 400 ships.
Folk Figure. Also known as Black Bart, he is perhaps the most feared pirate of all time. Born in Wales around 1682, he became a pirate the same way many others of the time did: he was pressed into service when his own ship was raided. After his likely service as a seaman in the War of Spanish Succession, he was already a master mariner by this time. When the pirate captain Howell Davis was killed in July 1719, Roberts was elected captain. The crew then voted to head for Brazil, and after Roberts guided the ship to a small island 2,300 miles away in under a month, he sailed into a 42-ship Portuguese convoy and looted the best prize before he could be stopped--including a diamond-studded gold cross meant for the King of Portugal that he wore until the end. Afterwards he continued to operate in the Caribbean despite Royal Navy ships specifically sent to stop him--and some of these actually sailed off rather than face him, such was his reputation. The end came on February 10, 1722, when Roberts was caught unexpectedly off Cape Lopez while trying to reach the island of Annabon. At first he mistook the Royal Navy ship for a merchantman, but once the fighting started he was killed in the first salvo. His body was thrown overboard, as per his wishes. In his career he had taken over 400 ships.
Bio by: Brian R.
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