ABSTRACT
Why, after six centuries, hundreds of vessels, thousands of men and millions of dollars in profits, has private armed warfare in the War of 1812 received so little attention? At least 600 vessels from 13 American states and 45 vessels from two British provinces sailed under one or more letters of marque and reprisal between July 1, 1812, and March 1, 1815. The nearly 2,000 prizes they captured pumped millions of dollars into their respective economies and filled the pages of local newspapers with tales of wealth, adventure, terror, and triumph. How can the history of the War of 1812 overlook privateers?
