what country was not directly involved in the war of 1812
War of 1812
The operations of American privateers proved a more significant threat to British trade than the U.S. Navy . They operated throughout the Atlantic and continued until the close of the war , most notably from ports such as Baltimore . American privateers reported taking 1300 British merchant vessels , compared to 254 taken by the U.S. Navy , although the insurer Lloyd 's of London reported that only 1,175 British ships were taken , 373 of which were recaptured , for a total loss of 802 . The Canadian historian Carl Benn wrote that American privateers took 1,344 British ships , of which 750 were retaken by the British . However the British were able to limit privateering losses by the strict enforcement of convoy by the Royal Navy and by capturing 278 American privateers . Due to the massive size of the British merchant fleet , American captures only affected 7.5 % of the fleet , resulting in no supply shortages or lack of reinforcements for British forces in North America . Of 526 American privateers , 148 were captured by the Royal Navy and only 207 ever took a prize .
The operations of American privateers proved a more significant threat to British trade than the U.S. Navy . They operated throughout the Atlantic and continued until the close of the war , most notably from ports such as Baltimore . American privateers reported taking 1300 British merchant vessels , compared to 254 taken by the U.S. Navy , although the insurer Lloyd 's of London reported that only 1,175 British ships were taken , 373 of which were recaptured , for a total loss of 802 . The Canadian historian Carl Benn wrote that American privateers took 1,344 British ships , of which 750 were retaken by the British . However the British were able to limit privateering losses by the strict enforcement of convoy by the Royal Navy and by capturing 278 American privateers . Due to the massive size of the British merchant fleet , American captures only affected 7.5 % of the fleet , resulting in no supply shortages or lack of reinforcements for British forces in North America . Of 526 American privateers , 148 were captured by the Royal Navy and only 207 ever took a prize .