Colby Pirates
Encyclopedia
The Colby Pirates were a group of pirates that operated as privateer
s at the peak of the hostilities between Britain and France during the French and Indian war
. They operated for the British King George III in the Great Lakes
frontier of the British North America
n colonies. In the late 18th century, they were led by George Colby
.
Unlike the pirates of the Spanish and Caribbean seas, the Colby Pirates operated largely without large and fast ships, using mock light houses to cause unsuspecting French merchant ships to run aground, making them easy prey. Once stranded, the Colby Pirates used small vessels to plunder the cargo of the helpless French ships. After the signing of the Treaty of Paris
, King George III officially disbanded the Colby Pirates, revoking their status as privateers as their service to the Crown was no longer needed.
This action is the last known record of the Colby Pirates, and it is assumed that they were assimilated into British settlements in the Great Lakes region.
Privateer
A privateer is a private person or ship authorized by a government by letters of marque to attack foreign shipping during wartime. Privateering was a way of mobilizing armed ships and sailors without having to spend public money or commit naval officers...
s at the peak of the hostilities between Britain and France during the French and Indian war
French and Indian War
The French and Indian War is the common American name for the war between Great Britain and France in North America from 1754 to 1763. In 1756, the war erupted into the world-wide conflict known as the Seven Years' War and thus came to be regarded as the North American theater of that war...
. They operated for the British King George III in the Great Lakes
Great Lakes
The Great Lakes are a collection of freshwater lakes located in northeastern North America, on the Canada – United States border. Consisting of Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario, they form the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth by total surface, coming in second by volume...
frontier of the British North America
British North America
British North America is a historical term. It consisted of the colonies and territories of the British Empire in continental North America after the end of the American Revolutionary War and the recognition of American independence in 1783.At the start of the Revolutionary War in 1775 the British...
n colonies. In the late 18th century, they were led by George Colby
George Colby
George Colby was a British privateer and profiteer of the French and Indian War . He successfully managed to disrupt the French fur trade by causing the French ships to run aground by emulating light houses in areas foreign to their destination. Him and his crew would then pull up in small sized...
.
Unlike the pirates of the Spanish and Caribbean seas, the Colby Pirates operated largely without large and fast ships, using mock light houses to cause unsuspecting French merchant ships to run aground, making them easy prey. Once stranded, the Colby Pirates used small vessels to plunder the cargo of the helpless French ships. After the signing of the Treaty of Paris
Treaty of Paris (1763)
The Treaty of Paris, often called the Peace of Paris, or the Treaty of 1763, was signed on 10 February 1763, by the kingdoms of Great Britain, France and Spain, with Portugal in agreement. It ended the French and Indian War/Seven Years' War...
, King George III officially disbanded the Colby Pirates, revoking their status as privateers as their service to the Crown was no longer needed.
This action is the last known record of the Colby Pirates, and it is assumed that they were assimilated into British settlements in the Great Lakes region.