Joseph Blake

Joseph "Blueskin" Blake (baptised 31 October 1700 – 11 November 1724) was an 18th-century English highwayman and prison escapee. Early life Blake was the son of Nathaniel and Jane Blake. He was baptised at All-Hallows-the-Great in London. His parents had the means to send him to the parish school of St Giles-without-Cripplegate for about six years. A school friend, William Blewitt, introduced him to the self-styled "Thief-Taker General" (and thief) Jonathan Wild around 1714. He left school and became a professional thief. By the age of 17, he was earning his living as a pickpocket, working with Edward Pollitt (or Pawlett or Pollard), and had been nicknamed "Blueskin". The origin of his sobriquet is uncertain: it could be due to his swarthy complexion, but possibly also to excessive facial hair, a port-wine birthmark, or perhaps a punning reference to his friend Blewitt.