Letter of marque facts for kids
A letter of marque was a special official paper given by a government. It allowed a regular person, who owned a ship, to attack and capture merchant ships from an enemy country. A ship that had a letter of marque was called a privateer. The Constitution of the United States even gave the U.S. Congress the power to issue these letters.
The difference between a privateer and a pirate was sometimes hard to see. Privateers were legal, but pirates were not. Because of this confusion, letters of marque were officially banned by international law in 1854.
Contents
What Was a Letter of Marque?
A letter of marque was like a special permission slip for sea captains. It allowed them to act like a navy ship, but they were not part of the official navy. The government would give this letter to a private ship owner. This owner could then attack and take ships that belonged to a country the government was fighting.
Why Governments Used Them
Governments used letters of marque for several reasons. It was a way to get more ships to fight during a war without paying for a whole navy. Privateers would share the treasure or goods they captured with the government. This helped the country's war efforts.
Privateers: Legal Sea Raiders
A privateer was a ship or person who had a letter of marque. They were different from pirates because their actions were legal under the laws of the country that gave them the letter. They were allowed to capture enemy ships and their cargo. This was seen as a way to hurt the enemy's trade and economy during a war.
How They Were Different from Pirates
Pirates attacked any ship they wanted, without any government permission. Their actions were always against the law. Privateers, however, only attacked ships from enemy nations. They had a legal document, the letter of marque, that made their actions lawful during wartime.
The End of Letters of Marque
Over time, it became harder to tell privateers from pirates. Sometimes, privateers would act like pirates, causing problems. Because of these issues, many countries decided to stop using letters of marque. In 1854, an international agreement called the Declaration of Paris officially banned them. This meant that governments could no longer give private individuals permission to attack enemy ships.
Images for kids
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Copy of a letter of marque and reprisal issued by Maurice, Prince of Orange to Captain Johan de Moor from Vlissingen for South America, 1 June 1618, page 1
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Letter of marque given to Captain Antoine Bollo via the shipowner Dominique Malfino from Genoa, owner of the Furet, a 15-tonne privateer, 27 February 1809
See also
In Spanish: Patente de corso para niños
