When I was young, my Mum mentioned someone in the family whom she always called “Black Bart”. No-one seemed to know who he was or where he came from. Upon further pressing, Mum revealed that he was a relative of my Grandma – her mother-in-law – but nobody knew who. When I asked Grandma, I was met with a “Be quiet! We don’t talk about him!” Okay – red rag to a bull time. After a lot of research I discovered that he was the brother of my great grandmother – so Grandma’s uncle. The reason that nobody spoke about him was that apparently, he used to ride around Cambridge on a tricycle – stark naked!
However, the real Black Bart was a Welsh pirate by the name of Bartholomew Roberts who raided over 470 ships of the coast of the Americas and West Africa between 1719 and 1722.
Born today, 10th February in 1682, he was killed at the age of 39 during the Battle of Cape Lopez. 
However, the real Black Bart was a Welsh pirate by the name of Bartholomew Roberts who raided over 470 ships of the coast of the Americas and West Africa between 1719 and 1722.
Born today, 10th February in 1682, he was killed at the age of 39 during the Battle of Cape Lopez. 