Which pirate captain was born John Roberts before adopting the name Bartholomew Roberts?

The pirate captain born John Roberts adopted the name Bartholomew Roberts.

He was born in Wales around 1682, although the precise place and date remain uncertain. Before becoming a pirate, he served at sea, including as a mate or officer aboard a merchant vessel involved in the Atlantic trade.

In 1719, pirates led by Howell Davis captured Roberts and forced him into their crew. After Davis was killed, Roberts was elected captain. He then began using the name Bartholomew Roberts, probably because another pirate named John Roberts was already known in the region.

The name later became widely associated with the shortened nickname Black Bart. Roberts became one of the most successful captains of the Golden Age before being killed by HMS Swallow at Cape Lopez in 1722.