Under the Red Jack: Privateers of the Maritime Provinces of Canada in the War of 1812

by C.H.J. Snider

A history of the privateers from the Canadian Maritimes (primarily out of St. John in New Brunswick; and Halifax and Liverpool in Nova Scotia) who risked big, and won big, by taking American merchant and fishing ships at sea during the War of 1812. The privateer was issued a Letter-of-Marque from the British Crown which gave the privately owned vessel instruction on attacking and taking of American ships, with the guarantee of entry into, and reward from, the British prize-courts. The ships were generally not large, but civilian sloops, schooners, brigantines and brigs, outfitted with cannon to prey on weaponless American ships. As a sidebar, at the end of the American Revolution all the English Loyalists were stripped of their property and shipped to Shelburne, Nova Scotia in 1782, from where they dispersed across the maritimes. Thirty years later the Martimes lionized the privateers in the War of 1812--and now you know why.

280 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1927

About the author

Charles Henry Jeremiah Snider

Reviews

[Laura Van Wormer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those unsung gems of history that makes aspects of the War of 1812 memorable. Lest we forget that we (America) thought Canada was easy pickings if we declared war against England, and that our defeat on land forged easy pickings into the united country of Canada, we will be reminded by the incredible pride Canadians took when private boats (from Nova Scotia and New Brunswick) donned cannons and aggressively chased down American merchant ships and took them to the British prize courts. I am frequently in Nova Scotia and you really haven't lived American history until you see, to this day, the pride with which the southern coast (centered around Liverpool)celebrates the privateers's response to America's declaration of war in 1812. This book chronicles the individual exploits of all the privateer ships, their captains and their crews. Just wonderful!