I am writing about the Maine privateer Hyder Ali or Hyder Ally, I've seen several spellings for the ship. I will put this ship's name as Privateer Hyder Ali in my labels.
From The Maine Story: "The Hyder Ally: Maine's Unluckiest Privateer." by Pat Higgins.
At the onset of the War of 1812, the American Navy had about 17 ships. Their foe, the British Navy, had about 1,000 ships.
A privateer navy would be needed to fill the breech.
Maine and New England jumped into activity. Here was a business proposition that would recoup losses suffered because of the Embargo Act of 1807 and the Non-intercourse Act of 1809. Both of these hit New England interests particularly hard.
Ships were built for speed and armed for battle. Shares were sold. Money was there to be made and the New Englanders were just the people to take advantage of it.
A privateer infestation soon occurred for any and all British shipping along the North American coasts. This extended into the Caribbean Sea and across the Atlantic to the Irish Sea. It was also in the Mediterranean and even as far as the Indian Ocean (where the Hyder Ally went).
--Brock-Perry
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