what is a privateer?

Answer 1

it's a pirate, but one that's authorized by the government (monarch probably) to raid the enemy boats or whatever

Answer 2

Prior to the 1800s--and even into the first few years of that century, the European countries (and the US in it's early years) would, in time of war, issue "Letters of Marque and Reprisal." These were authorizations for privately owned (and armed) ships to seek out and attack enemy ships.

The idea of course was to increase the issuing country's naval capability--but particularly targeted enemy merchant ships. The privateer would seek out and attempt to capture enemy merchant vessels. When they suceeded, their captures, called "prizes" would then be sailed to a friendly port and sold. The profits would then be divided among the government, ships owers, officers, and crew. Needless to say, a good privateer--or a lucky one--could make a great deal of money. Privateers could also sink enemy ships--but the real money was in captures. Privateers were not pirates--however, in some cases in the 16-17th centuries, pirates would be recruited by one country or another--on condition, of course, that if they assumed privateer (legal) status, they had to leave the sponsoring country's ships alone.

The United states was "in the game" only in the closing years before this practice died out--but its privateers wre among the most sucessful in history. The reason was that US privateers were usually "Baltimore Clippers"--fairly small ships that were at the time the fastest and most manueverable in the world. Originally developed by smugglers to outrun British navel ships and smuggle goods without paying the high taxes the British levied, they coult outrun any ship they could not fight--and few merchant ships stood a chance. They wre used in both the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. And here's a bit of trivia for "Star Trek" fans--the very first US warship named "Enterprise" was a privateer sailing under a Letter of Marque and Reprisalagainst the British.

Answer 3

A privateer was a private ship (or its captain) authorized by a country's government by letters of marque to attack foreign shipping. Strictly, a privateer was only entitled to attack enemy vessels during wartime. However, states often encouraged attacks on opposing powers while at peace, or on neutral vessels during time of war, blurring the line between privateering and piracy.

Privateers were an accepted part of naval warfare from the 16th to the 19th centuries, authorised by all significant naval powers. The costs of commissioning privateers was borne by investors hoping to gain a significant return from prize money earned from enemy merchants.

A privateer was a private warship authorised by a nation. At the time, many merchant vessels were armed with cannon, and naval officers and ratings expected to benefit from prize money if they captured an enemy ship. The privateer was distinguished by the legal framework it operated in—authorised to attack enemy shipping and be treated as prisoners of war if captured. If war was not declared, or if the privateer preyed on neutral shipping, the privateer might well be treated as a pirate by the enemy.

A privateer was an early sort of commerce raider, interrupting enemy trade. Privateers were of great benefit to a smaller naval power, or one facing an enemy dependent on trade: they disrupted commerce and hence enemy tax revenue, and forced the enemy to deploy warships to protect merchant trade. Privateering was a way of mobilising armed ships and sailors without spending public money or commissioning naval officers.

You could get more information from the link below...

Answer 4

If memory serves me right it (and I assume you mean historically) a privateer was a privately owned vessel which had a authorization from one country to capture (or sink) the vessels of an opposing nation.

The Privateer was entitled to a percentage of the spoils (which were generally under reported anyway).

England had them for years (again I seem to recall that Francis Drake was one) in its many wars. The US had them during the american revolution.

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Answer 5

It's a government owned ship that often flies without a flag, and raids enemy ships; it sends a portion of the booty back, and keeps some.

Ahh, I was wrong... it's a privately owned ship that corresponds to, and is paid by the government.

Sorry,

Answer 6

It is still a pirate, but one with a charter from the King to harrass the enemy's ships and plunder what they can (the King getting a hefty slice of the action)

Answer 7

essentially a pirate, but the captain was given a letter of marque which authorised him to seize emnemy ship in the name of whichever government( king) issued the letter,

Answer 8

This is a sea captain, master of his own ship, who understakes to capture ships of a country that is enemy of his own country. He is allowed to attack, capture, sink them, and take what they carry for his own. The privaterr's country licenses him to do what he will with the enemy.

Answer 9

Didn't anyone ever teach you how to use a dictionary or encyclopedia? You'd have had a better answer long before anyone could have posted it.

Answer 10

A pirate boat