Bartholomew Roberts (17 May 1682 – 10 February 1722) was born John Roberts, a Welsh pirate who raided ships off the Americas and West Africa between 1719 and 1722. He was the most successful pirate of the Golden Age of Piracy as measured by vessels captured, taking over 470 prizes in his career. He is also known as Black Bart , but this name was never used in his lifetime, and also risks confusion with Black Bart of the American West.