Originally broadcast: May 11, 2009
When Americans think of the Revolutionary War, the War for Independence, they think fife and drum, Minute Men, tri-cornered hats, George Washington on horseback.
When the British of 1776 — and ‘77 and ‘78 — thought of the American Revolution, many thought “pirates.” Cannon and cutlass and brigands on the high seas.
Washington and the Continental Congress unleashed thousands of American vessels — patriots and fortune seekers — to go after British shipping. And they did it with a vengeance.
This hour, On Point: Privateers, private booty, and the American Revolution.
You can join the conversation. Tell us what you think — here on this page, on Twitter, and on Facebook.
-Tom Ashbrook
Guest:
Joining us from New York is Robert H. Patton, author of “Patriot Pirates: The Privateer War for Freedom and Fortune in the American Revolution.”
Read an excerpt from “Patriot Pirates.”
If i’m correct, these people were a ban to the British, who more so were in it for the money than anything else but once the war against England was over they ended up switching to the slave trade.
Posted by Mike, on August 27th, 2009 at 8:43 am UTCMy ancestor, Nathaniel Saltonstall, commanded the privateer, “General Putnam.” What sources do you recommend to learn more about Saltonstall’s career as a privateer?
Posted by Bill, on August 27th, 2009 at 10:35 am UTCLived in Nova Scotia for some time – it has an excellent maritime history; the following is a link to a shanty song named “Barret’s Privateers” by Stan Rogers. Thought I’d share it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-PQbdmQRwc
Posted by Peter Jensen, on August 27th, 2009 at 10:42 am UTCI recently read “George Washington’s Secret Navy” by James Nelson, which tells of Washington’s commissioning of privateers without going through congress. Now I’ll have to find this book and read it.
Posted by Michael Fairbank, on August 27th, 2009 at 10:50 am UTCI would like to turn the questiion about what the privateers would have thought about the Somali Pirates around.
What will a radio show in 2200 in the Great Caliphate say about the patriotic Islamic activity of the Somali Pirates, and what the Great Patriotic Leader Osama bin Laden said about them at the time.
Posted by MARTIN GILLIESON, on August 27th, 2009 at 10:55 am UTCI just got in the car and a caller (unfortunately I did not hear the name) before “Mike” in the first hour around 10:20AM talked about pieces of silver that he was still using that I beilieve, although not his exact words, he felt had been handed down thru his family..perhaps as part of pirate “loot.” Again I only heard bits and pieces..but Ibelieve he mentioned a piece from the LUKENS family. If I heard correctly he said something about making it available if he knew who they were?? My family name is LUKENS and the family owned a company in Newark, NJ called Lukens Iron Works. The family also owned and operated Clippetr ships. It would be interesting if I heard any part of the call correctly. Thanks, Ed
Posted by Ed Huppi, on August 27th, 2009 at 12:24 pm UTC[...] [...]
Posted by This and That « Lizr128’s Blog, on August 27th, 2009 at 8:06 pm UTCAny info on John Lorain, privateer?
Posted by Marc H., on August 27th, 2009 at 9:23 pm UTCOne of the forgotten bits of history of the War of 1812 was instigated by the capture of African American sailors who were captured by the British and taken to England. African American sailors were very much a part of crews and sailors the early US Navy.
Posted by Joe Sailor, on August 27th, 2009 at 9:41 pm UTCThank you for a very interesting program. It was so informative as were the call-in comments.
Posted by Dolores Saltzman, on August 31st, 2009 at 4:22 pm UTCAlso, could you tell me what the music was that was played as the program ended?
Thank you again.