Cape Lopez

Every statement above that rests on a checked claim carries a small number; the numbers lead here. Each entry gives what is claimed, how far the record supports it, and where it comes from.

1. In the golden-age period Cape Lopez served mariners chiefly as a landmark, a sheltered anchorage and a place to take on wood, water and fresh provisions on the passage down the west African coast; for pirates its attraction was that it was a quiet, out-of-the-way anchorage off a thinly policed coast where ships could be careened, prizes rifled and crews rested away from naval patrols. Unverified Reported, not yet checked against the record. Period narrative: Charles Johnson, A General History of the Robberies and Murders of the Most Notorious Pyrates (London, 1724), for the use of the cape as a landmark, anchorage and watering and provisioning stop and for its attraction to pirates as a thinly policed anchorage for careening and refitting (Probable)
2. In late January and February 1722 the squadron of Bartholomew Roberts, the most successful pirate captain of the golden age by number of prizes taken, lay off Cape Lopez, his force generally given as three vessels: the flagship Royal Fortune, a consort named Ranger, and a store or victualling vessel called the Little Ranger. Likely More likely than not on the evidence we have. Museum account and period narrative: Royal Museums Greenwich, "Death of Bartholomew Roberts," rmg.co.uk, accessed 14 August 2026, for the presence of the squadron off Cape Lopez in early 1722 and for Roberts as the most prolific captain of the era (Probable); Charles Johnson, A General History of the Pyrates (London, 1724), for the three vessels Royal Fortune, Ranger and Little Ranger (Probable). The page carries the composition as reported rather than settled
3. The Royal Navy fourth-rate HMS Swallow, rated at about 50 guns and commanded by Captain Chaloner Ogle, had been cruising the Guinea coast hunting Roberts, and on 5 February 1722 she disguised her strength and stood off as though a fleeing merchantman, drawing the consort Ranger under James Skyrme out of the anchorage; once the pirate was clear of the cape the Swallow ran out her guns and battered her into surrender, killing several of the crew and taking the rest, with Skyrme reported to have lost a leg in the fight. Likely More likely than not on the evidence we have. Museum account and period narrative: Royal Museums Greenwich, "Death of Bartholomew Roberts," rmg.co.uk, accessed 14 August 2026, for HMS Swallow as a fourth-rate of about 50 guns under Captain Chaloner Ogle cruising the Guinea coast in search of Roberts (Confirmed) and for the taking of the Ranger on 5 February 1722 (Confirmed as to the date); Charles Johnson, A General History of the Pyrates (London, 1724), for the decoy manoeuvre, the surrender of the Ranger under James Skyrme and the loss of Skyrme's leg (Probable)
4. The Swallow returned to Cape Lopez and found the Royal Fortune still at anchor, many of the pirates said to be the worse for drink after a prize lately taken; Bartholomew Roberts was killed early in the engagement, and the grapeshot that struck him in the throat and killed him at once where he stood on deck, the crimson waistcoat and breeches, feather and diamond cross in which he is said to have fallen, and the story that his surviving crew, honouring a wish attributed to him, put his body over the side before the ship was taken so that it was never recovered and Ogle never had the man himself, alive or dead, all descend from Charles Johnson's General History and the accounts that follow it, and the Archive carries them as Possible following his own record. Possible Consistent with the evidence, not established. Museum account and period narrative: Royal Museums Greenwich, "Death of Bartholomew Roberts," rmg.co.uk, accessed 14 August 2026, for the death by grapeshot to the throat, the explicit rejection of the broadside version, and the sea burial and non-recovery of the body (Probable); Charles Johnson, A General History of the Pyrates (London, 1724), for the drunkenness of the crew (Probable) and for the account of Roberts's crimson waistcoat and breeches, feather in his hat and gold chain with a diamond cross, which the page attributes to Johnson by name and carries as Possible
5. Chaloner Ogle was knighted in 1723 for the action off Cape Lopez, is generally described as the only naval officer knighted specifically for an action against pirates, and was permitted to keep prize value from the captured pirate ships; the action itself is generally taken by historians to mark the effective close of the golden age of Atlantic piracy, because it removed the era's most prolific pirate, shattered the largest pirate company then at sea and led to the mass trial and executions at Cape Coast Castle that made a public example of the survivors, even though scattered piracy continued for some years afterwards. Likely More likely than not on the evidence we have. Museum account: Royal Museums Greenwich, "Death of Bartholomew Roberts," rmg.co.uk, accessed 14 August 2026, for the knighthood of 1723, the description of Ogle as the only naval officer knighted specifically for an action against pirates, and his retention of prize value (Probable); Royal Museums Greenwich for the reading of the action as the effective end of the golden age of Atlantic piracy, with the qualification that scattered piracy continued afterwards (Probable). The fate of the captured pirate ships and any cargo, and the precise dates of the individual executions in April 1722, still await primary confirmation
6. Atkins describes Cape Lopez as a safe and pleasant bay, with anchorage in twenty fathoms and both the cape and watering place about a mile and a half distant. Very likely Strong evidence, short of proof. Period primary source or printed calendar: Atkins, A Voyage to Guinea (1735), Cape Lopez, library lines 4703-4710
7. Atkins advises an approaching ship to bring the cape south-south-west to avoid Frenchman's Bank, which charts placed about a league and a half north-north-east of the cape. Very likely Strong evidence, short of proof. Period primary source or printed calendar: Atkins, A Voyage to Guinea (1735), Cape Lopez, library lines 4711-4718
8. Atkins described the cape as low and steep but wooded, with savannahs behind it, and the bay as stocked with fish; provisions and local trade goods were available there. Very likely Strong evidence, short of proof. Period primary source or printed calendar: Atkins, A Voyage to Guinea (1735), Cape Lopez, library lines 4719-4731
9. Atkins wrote that wood was exchanged for an old Guinea sheet and that water was free and easy to reach, though it came from a standing pool and tasted worse than spring water. Very likely Strong evidence, short of proof. Period primary source or printed calendar: Atkins, A Voyage to Guinea (1735), Cape Lopez, library lines 4732-4739
10. Ogle's printed journal says that at daylight on 5 February he saw Cape Lopez about three leagues away and three ships at anchor under it, which he believed to be the pirates. Very likely Strong evidence, short of proof. Period primary source or printed calendar: The Tryals of the Pyrates (1723), Ogle's journal, library lines 111-119
11. Ogle records that the pursuing ship came within gunshot, flew English colours and a black flag, exchanged fire with the Swallow, and struck after an hour and a half. Very likely Strong evidence, short of proof. Period primary source or printed calendar: The Tryals of the Pyrates (1723), Ogle's journal, library lines 114-130
12. Ogle's journal states that Roberts was killed and that the captured Royal Fortune mounted forty guns and carried 152 men, twenty-five of them Black. Very likely Strong evidence, short of proof. Period primary source or printed calendar: The Tryals of the Pyrates (1723), Ogle's journal, library lines 143-151
13. Atkins's chronology says the Swallow returned to Cape Lopez and found the remaining consorts easy in the bay; they cut their cable, raised the black flag, fought while running and struck when the broadside reached them. Very likely Strong evidence, short of proof. Period primary source or printed calendar: Atkins, A Voyage to Guinea (1735), chronology under 10 February, library lines 6331-6341
14. Atkins records that the warships left Cape Lopez with prizes and prisoners for Cape Corso, where the general and chief merchants held a commission to try them. Very likely Strong evidence, short of proof. Period primary source or printed calendar: Atkins, A Voyage to Guinea (1735), chronology under 18 February, library lines 6345-6352