Captain Ogle's Cup: A Pirate Adventure

Only one man in British history has ever been knighted for
services to combat piracy, but his name - unlike those of his
adversaries - is practically unknown. In fact, Chaloner Ogle
enjoyed a long and distinguished career in the Royal Navy, rising
to become Admiral of the Fleet. His spectacular career coincided
with the 'golden age' of piracy, when trade in the Atlantic and
beyond was threatened by roving bands of sea-robbers. Following
a series of incidents on the African coast, Ogle set his sights on
one particular robber, Bartholomew Roberts, or 'Black Bart'.
The encounter that ensued is recorded in Captain Charles
Johnson's A General History of the Pyrates, published in 1724.
Struck by grapeshot, which ripped out his throat, Roberts was
killed in an instant. Ogle, however, was denied the chance
to capture the pirate when Roberts's crew threw his corpse
overboard. The body was never recovered. The crew, however,
suff ered fates that befell many captured pirates: some were
hanged, others were sentenced to indentured labour, practically
a life sentence in itself.
While the exact details of how the coconut cup at the centre of
this publication came to be made are unknown, it is a tantalising
link to this period of history. The object will be on display during
a major new exhibition at the National Maritime Museum from
spring 2025 to early 2026.