Maltese Privateers 1809

Private men of war issued with a letter of marque, commission or letter of marque and reprisal.
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Makis
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Maltese Privateers 1809

Post by Makis »

In May 1809, and for the rest of that summer, two (at least) Maltese privateers operated in the Ionian Sea, around the Ionian Islands (now Greece) which then were French territory. Occasionaly, they met the British ships of the Corfu blockade squadron, such as HMS Topaze, HMSloop Pylades. Can anybody identify those Maltese privateers?
AvM
Rear-Admiral
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Re: Maltese Privateers 1809

Post by AvM »

From LLoyd'S List

Globe - Tuesday 23 May 1809

Two Maltese privateers, both called the St. George, were captured early March, offZante, by two French frigates, from Toulon, bound Corfu.

Caledonian Mercury - Saturday 07 October 1809
The Betaey, -, from Phil-delphia, was taken 3d Ju ly, by-a French privateer. and retakeen 8th, by a Maltese privateer.
Makis
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Re: Maltese Privateers 1809

Post by Makis »

Awesome!!!
The two French frigates were La Flore (Captain, and Commodore, Alexandre Lambert) and La Danaé (Captain Henri Descorches de Sainte-Croix). They carried stores, and money from Toulon to Corfu.
They arrived at Zante on February 26th and left the 28th. Then they arrived at Ithaca on 3rd March and left on the 9th.
On the 12th they were intercepted by HMS Topaze and HMSloop Kingfisher between Levkas (Santa Maura) and Paxos. The French engaged and then reached Corfu.
Please give me more info on Lloyd's List, where should I look?
What does that "From Looyd's List" you write mean?
Globe is a newspaper? Can I find it online?
I'm pretty new to this naval stuff but I have some historical sources and trying to put them together.
AvM
Rear-Admiral
Posts: 236
Joined: Tue May 30, 2017 9:39 am

Re: Maltese Privateers 1809

Post by AvM »

I have checked only

https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/

Lloyd'S Lists in electonic form very difficult to browse
so personally I have also LLoyd's Lists as hardcopy,

You have to browse any year you are interested in,
they are on line for free, but it takes so many time.

I have check my Malta registers, I have them only form 1821 :(
Makis
Warrant Officer
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Re: Maltese Privateers 1809

Post by Makis »

I've made also a quick search and found both the site and the newspaper, and article.
Thanks a lot.
So far I have no access to the french ships' logs, so every piece of information is fine.
However, there were at least two more maltese privateers sailing around the Ionian Islands in and after May 1809.
If you bump into something drop a note here.
Makis
Warrant Officer
Posts: 31
Joined: Tue Dec 19, 2017 6:33 pm

Re: Maltese Privateers 1809

Post by Makis »

Could you give me the link for Lloyd's List?
AvM
Rear-Admiral
Posts: 236
Joined: Tue May 30, 2017 9:39 am

Re: Maltese Privateers 1809

Post by AvM »

There are two useful links

Lloyd's List marine news 1740 - 1837
https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/lloydsList/

https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/012262360

I hava as hardocpy years 1798-1826
(as the above on line works too slowly, and OCR works not good with old prints)
and electronic 1827-1860

LLoyds'are also available on:
https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/
and
https://newspaperarchive.com/
but them both costs
Makis
Warrant Officer
Posts: 31
Joined: Tue Dec 19, 2017 6:33 pm

Re: Maltese Privateers 1809

Post by Makis »

Thanks again for the info! :idea:
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