Help support TMP


"How privateering worked in the American Revolution" Topic


11 Posts

All members in good standing are free to post here. Opinions expressed here are solely those of the posters, and have not been cleared with nor are they endorsed by The Miniatures Page.

Please be courteous toward your fellow TMP members.

For more information, see the TMP FAQ.


Back to the American Revolution Message Board

Back to the Age of Sail Message Board


Areas of Interest

Renaissance
18th Century
Napoleonic
19th Century

Featured Hobby News Article


Featured Link


Featured Showcase Article

28mm Acolyte Vampires - Based

The Acolyte Vampires return - based, now, and ready for the game table.


340 hits since 29 Dec 2024
©1994-2025 Bill Armintrout
Comments or corrections?


TMP logo

Membership

Please sign in to your membership account, or, if you are not yet a member, please sign up for your free membership account.
Tango01 Supporting Member of TMP29 Dec 2024 4:01 p.m. PST

"In the war for American independence, an oft-forgotten force strangled British commerce, raided supply and seized ships for American use. While usually forgotten by history, privateersmen were the largest naval muscle of the Continental government. So much so that Massachusetts, Gen. George Washington, and the Continental Congress all authorized them.

So how did a privateersman or a ship owner enter the trade? And how did privateering work?…"


Main page


link

Armand

Bunkermeister Supporting Member of TMP29 Dec 2024 7:26 p.m. PST

Perhaps Ukraine could privateer Russian dark fleet tankers?

Bunkermeister

rmaker30 Dec 2024 9:53 a.m. PST

International law outlawed privateering late in the 19th Century.

138SquadronRAF30 Dec 2024 10:24 a.m. PST

Marker

International Law, technically the Declaration of Paris (1856), did outlaw Privateering. The United State (suprise!) didn't agree to the terms and set that they would continue to employ Privateers – that's why we get the Confederacy issuing Letters of Marque in the Civil War. Naturally, the Union, refused to recognise these letters (surprise) and tried several crews for piracy.

Dn Jackson Supporting Member of TMP30 Dec 2024 2:37 p.m. PST

Unless Ukraine was a signatory to the treaty outlawing privateering, they're not bound by it.

Tango01 Supporting Member of TMP30 Dec 2024 2:39 p.m. PST

Thanks.

Happy new year my dear cousin…

Armand

Bill N01 Jan 2025 8:28 a.m. PST

that's why we get the Confederacy issuing Letters of Marque in the Civil War

I thought most of the commerce raiding ended up being done by commissioned ships of the Confederate navy.

138SquadronRAF02 Jan 2025 9:34 a.m. PST

There were a number of privateers that operated out of southern ports, most notably Charleston. Three ships were particularly Sevannah, Jeffereson Davis, and Petral. All three were sailing vessels, had short careers. The crew of the Sevannah were put on trail for piracy after capture and condemned to be hanged. The response of the Confederate government was threaten to execute a similar number of senior Union officers. Eventually the crew of the Sevannah were treated as prisoners of war.

The Conderacy seems to have abandoned privateers because the shipowners who had vessels didn't consider it profitable.

If you want a source, I would recommend: Robinson, William Morrison, Jr. The Confederate privateers. Yale University, 1928. Reprint, Univ. of South Carolina, 1990.

Personal logo John the OFM Supporting Member of TMP03 Jan 2025 6:53 a.m. PST

Regarding Ukraine and privateering.
IF Ukraine is considered a "successor state" to the Russian Empire, perhaps it can be considered a signatory. BUT, isn't that part of Vlad the Impaler's justification?
Said privateers, if "legal", would then need an acceptable port to transport their prizes to.
But, what the heck. Let's have private licensed mercenary privateer fleets going after the "illegal" Russian ghost fleet of tankers. 🤷

Personal logo John the OFM Supporting Member of TMP03 Jan 2025 6:56 a.m. PST

By the way, the United States Constitution grants to Congress the authority to issue letters of Marque. Was that ever transferred to the Navy Department?

79thPA Supporting Member of TMP21 Jan 2025 10:14 a.m. PST

No, it is still in the hands of Congress.

Sorry - only verified members can post on the forums.