Only one man in British history has ever been knighted forservices to combat piracy, but his name – unlike those of his legendaryadversaries – is practically unknown. Now in the collection of Royal MuseumsGreenwich, a cup made of coconut and set into a silver mount links the lives ofpirate-hunter Chaloner Ogle and pirate extraordinaire Bartholomew Roberts, theinfamous ‘Black Bart’. Their story reveals the realities of crime, justice andthe Royal Navy’s role in protecting British interests at sea during piracy’s‘golden age’, at a time when growing global trade networks were increasinglyunder threat from roving bands of sea robbers. Captain Ogle’s Cup: A Pirate Adventure is part of theRoyal Museums Greenwich Spotlight series, accessible introductions to some ofthe most intriguing objects in the collection.
