Black Jack Anderson

John "Black Jack" Anderson (died 1837) was an African-American sealer and pirate active in the Recherche Archipelago off the south coast of Western Australia.

Arrival in Western Australia Anderson arrived in Western Australia's Recherche Archipelago on the cutter Mountaineer in 1835 from Kangaroo Island in what was to become South Australia, setting up base on Middle Island (near modern day Esperance).

In September 1834 Anderson and another black man, John Bathurst, arrived at Kangaroo Island from Long Island and clashed with whalers and Aboriginals.

According to an 1842 report complaining about the lawlessness of sealers: One of the most daring of these people was a man of color of the name of Anderson, and lawless as these men were, they looked up to him with a sort of dread. Anderson usually carried a brace of pistols about him, knowing that he held his life by a very precarious tenure. By persevering exertions he had amassed a considerable sum of money, and usually kept one or two black women to attend on him and minister to his wants, when not engaged in sealing.

In fiction Skins, by Sarah Hay - winner of the 2001 The Australian/Vogel Literary Award Black Jack Anderson: Australia's Most Notorious Pirate, by Elaine Forrestal Black Anderson A 1929 story by "Polygon" in The West Australian