Other-waters

In modern times, privateer is a general term used to describe any entrants into a racing event that are not factory-backed by an automobile manufacturer. Privateers teams are often found competing in Rally and Circuit racing events, and often include competitors who build and maintain their own vehicles. Many privateer entrants compete for the enjoyment of the sport, and are not paid to be racing drivers.

But since this is not even close to being sailing or other water-related, lets talk about the other kind of privateers … A privateer is a private ship (or its captain) authorized by a country's government to attack and seize cargo from another country's ships.

Prior to the development of international law among European nations, there was no legal recourse for minor grievances. Privateering was a form of covert operation used to resolve these matters without open warfare. The government of a country provided a letter of marque and reprisal to a shipowner that allowed him to arm his ship and attack other ships sailing under a particular flag. In return he received a share of the seized cargo, while the rest went to the government as payment for the grievance.

To the target country, a privateer looked very much like a pirate, and indeed this was the intention. The only difference was that pirates were considered outlaws by all nations, while privateers had immunity from the country that commissioned them. Privateers were sometimes known as “gentleman pirates.”

European powers renounced privateering in the 1856 Declaration of Paris. Other countries (including the United States) also renounced it under the Hague Conventions (1899/1907).

Privateers in American history

The United States Constitution authorizes Congress to grant "letters of marque and reprisal," as did the Confederate Constitution. The Confederates used privateers during the American Civil War. Britain also used them against the US after the American Revolutionary War.

Some famous privateers were, Victual Brothers, William Kidd, Alexander Godfrey, Francis Drake

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