Privateering in the american. Just a little more background on me. Ive been a full time writer since about 2007. Most of my books are in american history, usually have a maritime component. Ive spoken at the archives a number of times in the past. Of the books include the history of whaling in america for fortune, an empire, a history of fur, trade in america, black flags, blue waters, the epic history of americas notorious pirates and my last book, a furious scar on the history of american hurricanes. But today i am here to talk about privateering and American Revolution. It was late the day on june 3rd, 1780, when salem captain Jonathan Harrod and his privateer, the pickering, were heading for the friendly port of bilbao, spain. The british achilles, however, stood in the way nobody would have faulted had he fled in the face of this superior foe. While the pickering had a crew of 38 men cannons, the achilles bristled with 130 men and 43 cannons, hardly fair fight. But thats not the w