Death of Bartholomew Roberts — End of the Golden Age
On February 10, 1722, Bartholomew Roberts — ‘Black Bart’ — was killed by grapeshot aboard his flagship Royal Fortune during a surprise dawn attack by HMS Swallow off Cape Lopez, Gabon. Roberts had captured an estimated 400 ships in three years, operating from the Caribbean to the coast of West Africa. He dressed immaculately in battle and was known for his strict shipboard code of conduct. His death effectively ended the Golden Age of Piracy: with the major pirate captains dead or hanged and the Royal Navy actively patrolling, piracy in the Atlantic receded to nuisance level. His crew of over 250 men faced the largest piracy trial in British history.
- Year: 1722 CE
- Category: Military
