Author: Anthony Green

Interviewer: Kol Shuler

During the War of 1812 privateers acted as a supplement to the United States Navy by disrupting British trade. Of the 600 plus privateering ships to take part in the war, those commanded by Thomas Boyle and Samuel Handy were the most successful. Through effective sailing, out gunning, and wise tactics these two privateering captains were able to take more prizes than other captains during the war. Their successes caused numerous problems for British merchants and the British Royal Navy, allowing them to become the perfect examples of why privateering mattered during the War of 1812.