Talk:Privateer

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I don't know enough about this to edit the article... but a privateer is also the name for a vessel owned by a privateer, I think. fabiform | talk 16:19, 11 Apr 2004 (UTC)

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While the U.S. Constitution does still authorise privateering, developments in international law have rendered this obsolete, and under international law a privateer would be a pirate now. --Daniel C. Boyer 17:18, 3 Aug 2004 (UTC)

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All I needed 2 know wuz what a privateer iz, so thank u! :) (happy face)

Contents 1 Two topics on one page 2 American history? 3 Privateer != pirate 4 Edward Teach 5 Suggestion 6 International law... 7 Past tense? 8 Please add Jean Lafitte 9 How did privateering become illegal?

[edit] Two topics on one page

Shouldn't the use of the word "privateer" referring to motorsports be in a separate article? (e.g. "privateer (motorsports)") Rick 19:12, 13 Dec 2004 (UTC)

[edit] American history?

Why is there such a big mention of American history here? American privateers were certainly not the biggest part of privateering, if you are to have that there should also be a big chunk on 16th century privateering and other times. --Josquius 20:01, 23 Feb 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Privateer != pirate

A privateer operates under a letter_of_marque, a pirate does not. the distinction is fine, but it's there. Privateers are/were legitimate, pirates are just criminals. -- Bob the Cannibal 23:42, 11 Mar 2005 (UTC)

Then Drake does not belong to this list, as he was just a bloody criminal and raper, who even today will deserve execution.

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Sir Francis Drake is so commonly referred to as a privateer for England, that his absence from the list is surprising, and imho worthy of mention. Specifically, did he not have the necessary authority to engage in his activities in the name of the Crown?

--Davecampbell 01:50, 9 December 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Edward Teach

I dont belive that Edward Teach has ever been proven to have been a privateer. It has only been said that he may have been one before he became a famous pirate But most of his background is unknown even his true name. Edward Teach is just one of the names he used when he was on land.

I just think it's wrong to count him as a privateer when he never had a letter of marque as far as history tells and there is no record from his belived privateering past. One should seperate history from speculations. Especially with all the proposterous stories already circulating about famous pirates and privateers.

[edit] Suggestion

Include "compare and contrast" to state terrorism/state sponsored terrorism.

[edit] International law...

Prior to the development of international law among European nations,

It is my understanding that privateering was specifically recognized as something states could do under international law. Certainly privaterring continued for a long time, and international law is generally considered to have begun to develop in the 17th century. Or are we referring to "international law" in some odd, idiosyncratic way? john k 20:25, 30 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Past tense?

The United States Constitution authorized the U.S. 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 U.S. after the American Revolutionary War.[1]

Authourized is in the psat tense. Does the constitution no longer allow congress to do so?

I'm not so on hot american governmental structure, but perhaps something like this is more accurate: "As then interpreted by Congress, the US Constitution authorized letters of marque and reprisal to be granted," (replacing 'congress' by which ever branch does the interpreting of the constitution). Or maybe: "By the prevailing interpretation of the time, the US Constitution authorized Congress to grant letters [etc etc], as did the Confederate constitution." Or some mishmash of the two. Slightly more longwinded though.

Oh, and as a side note, the current sentence reads like the Confederate constitution authorized US Congress to grant these letters (as would both my rephrasings). Again, I'm not so hot on the american civil war, but is that what's actually meant? Tez 00:41, 23 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Please add Jean Lafitte

There is already an excellent entry about Jean Lafitte, an American hero who helped Andrew Jackson repel the British at the Battle of New Orleans. Suggest adding Lafitte to the list of notable Privateers with a link.

Also, it would be interesting to note that today the University of New Orleans uses the "Privateers" as its mascot (see it at [1]) and a costume mascot alligator dressed as a privateer is known as "Lafitte." Just looked and there's also a graphic on the wiki page for UNO.

Be bold and add the link yourself. Also, please sign and date your contributions. --Davecampbell 22:52, 31 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] How did privateering become illegal?

This article lacks something very important which is how and when nations stopped recognising privateering as something legitimate. I believe it was probably towards the end of the 19th century. GS3 11:41, 13 January 2007 (UTC)