Battle of Cape Lopez | Charles Edward Dixon | 20 Century

The Battle of Cape Lopez, fought on 10 February 1722 off the coast of present-day Gabon, was one of the defining encounters of the Golden Age of Piracy and resulted in the death of the notorious Welsh pirate Bartholomew Roberts, known as “Black Bart.” Roberts had captured hundreds of vessels during a remarkably successful career that terrorised shipping across the Atlantic, Caribbean and West African coasts. The Royal Navy dispatched HMS Swallow, commanded by Captain Chaloner Ogle, to hunt down Roberts and his fleet. After first luring away and capturing the pirate ship Ranger, Ogle returned to Cape Lopez and confronted Roberts aboard his flagship, the Royal Fortune. Roberts reportedly dressed for battle in a rich crimson waistcoat, with pistols at his side and a gold chain around his neck. During the opening exchange of cannon fire, he was struck in the throat by grapeshot and killed. In accordance with his wishes, his crew wrapped his body in the ship’s colours and threw it overboard before the vessel was captured. More than 250 pirates were subsequently taken prisoner, with many later tried at Cape Coast Castle. Roberts's death dealt a major blow to Atlantic piracy and is often regarded as one of the events marking the approaching end of piracy’s so-called Golden Age.

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