Originally born as John Roberts in 1682 in Wales. Reasons for his eventual name-change are still not well known, but it is known that he set out for see at the age of 13. In 1719 was made third mate aboard a slave ship called Princess. While anchored at Anomabu along the African coast (present day Ghana) the ship was captured by pirates. Many of the crew was forced to become pirates themselves and join their captures, and it is widely speculated that Roberts was very reluctant to this new way of life. However, within a reasonable amount of time he became used to the life of a Pirate. He sailed with captain Howell Davis, who recognized Roberts's talents fairly quickly.
Davis eventually brought their ship into Isle de Princes. They displayed a British flag on their ship so that they could enter the harbour. Davis intended to invite the governer of the island onto the ship and hold him hostage. Needing to send out boats to collect the governer, Davis headed out to the fort. Along the way it was made apparent that the Portuguese had discovered Davis was a pirate, because they ambushed and shot him down.
In need of a new captain, it was less than six weeks since his capture that Roberts was elected the new captain. This was actually rather unusual, and only further shows how good Roberts was at this new 'career'. His first act as captain was to lead his crew back and avenge the death of Davis. In the dead of night they stormed the island, stole anything of value they could carry, and saw to it that a very large portion of the male population was killed off.
He spent his pirating life preying on ships on Africa's West Coast and along the coasts of the Americas. It is estimated that he captured and sank well over 450 ships, and it is widely concidered one of, if not the, greastest pirate during the Golden Age Of Piracy. Soon he became widely known as Black Bart or Bart Roberts. He enjoyed wearing fine clothing, and is usually depicted wearing flamboyant coats and hats. One thing that set him apart from many other pirates was his distaste for rum. It is quite clear that he did not approve of drunkeness, which may have something to do with his success in the field.
In February of 1722 the H.M.S. Swallow found Roberts's ships near Cape Lopez. The ship had been sent out to capture Roberts once and for all, and in an attempt to appear like a fleaing merchant ship they immediately headed away. One of the pirate ships followed, but once out of earshot and sight, the Swallow attacked and managed to capture the crew. Five days later they returned to see Roberts still there. He had captured the Neptune the previous day, meaning his men were worn out and all drunk. Hoping to be able to sail past the Swallow and escape, Roberts dressed in his finest clothes. Wearing a bright red outfit, complete with a massive feather in his hat and gold chains around his neck, and two pistols slung over his shoulder, he was ready for battle. However, as he stood on deck, the Swallow fired their cannons and Roberts was struck and torn down. Death had overcome a pirate that many reguarded as bullet proof. He had always wished to be burried at sea, and his crew made sure that they weighed him down and tossed his body overboard before the Swallow's captain could get ahold of it.