The pirate known as Black Bart was born John Roberts, although history records him under the name Bartholomew Roberts.
Roberts adopted the nickname Black Bart because “Bart” was a Welsh form of Bartholomew. He became one of the most successful pirates of the early eighteenth century after joining the crew of pirate Howell Davis in 1719. Following Davis’s death, Roberts was elected captain.
Roberts operated across the Atlantic, the Caribbean, and the coast of West Africa. His career lasted only a few years, but he captured hundreds of vessels and became the most prominent pirate of the period. His death in 1722 during a battle with HMS Swallow effectively ended his career.
Black Bart is sometimes confused with Blackbeard, but they were different pirates. Blackbeard was Edward Teach, while Black Bart was John Roberts.