John Black (privateer)

Captain John Black (31 October 1778 – c. May 1802), was an English seafarer, who had a short but eventful career that included privateering and exploration. He was best known, during his own lifetime, for a mutiny on Lady Shore in August 1797, as it sailed south in the Atlantic Ocean, bound for Sydney, carrying female convicts. As a result of the mutiny, Black (a junior ship's officer at the time) and several other members of the crew were put into a small boat and left to find their way to the nearest land, being Brazil.

Black served twice on privateering vessels during the Anglo-Spanish War (1796–1808), including one appointment as ship's captain. As such, he was authorized by the British government to attack enemy vessels, with the intent of taking them and/or their cargoes as war booty, or sinking them. During both engagements, Black was involved in the capture of at least Spanish vessel. In 1798, the 19-year-old Black arrived at Port Jackson (Sydney Harbour), which was a base of operations for privateers. In addition to privateering, Black was involved in whaling, and voyages of exploration.

In Sydney, Black met a convict named Mary Hyde (1779–1864), with whom he had two children.

In 1798, Black's father, the Reverend John Black (1753–1813) – an established and prolific writer of prose and poetry – published a collection of his son's letters. The book included an account of the mutiny and was dedicated to the "Portuguese nation", as a "small testimony of gratitude" for the "unequalled hospitality" extended to Black and his companions in Brazil (which was part of the Portuguese Empire at the time).

On his final voyage, Black sailed in 1802 from Sydney, on a round-trip to India – visiting Mumbai (then known Bombay) and Kolkata (Calcutta). He and his vessel were lost at sea while returning to Sydney.