Name Actress Name Dart Class and type Sloop Beam 5.49 m | Captured July 18, 1812 Captured October 22, 1813 Length 18 m Tons burthen 42,640 kg | |
Owner Saint John, New Brunswick | ||
The Dart was a privateer sloop out of Saint John, New Brunswick that was a notable privateer during the War of 1812. Dart took 11 prizes in her five-month run and two cruises before being captured by an American ship in October 1813. Dart is unique because a logbook of one of its voyages (May 22, 1813 to June 9, 1813) survives at the Dalhousie University Archives along with full crew lists and the articles of agreement at the Public Archives of Nova Scotia making Dart one of the best-documented privateer vessels of the War of 1812.
History
On July 18, 1812, the American vessel Actress was captured by the Royal Navy ship HMS Spartan. HMS Spartan took her to port in Saint John, New Brunswick as prize, where she remained until being auctioned off to new owners. She was renamed Dart and fitted with weapons to serve as a privateer. On May 4, 1813 she received her first letter of marque, and began stocking provisions for her first cruise under Captain John Harris. Dart met with success, bringing in three prizes by June 10, 1813.
Dart received her second letter of marque on July 14, 1813 and undertook her second cruise this time under Captain James Ross. Again meeting with success, taking eight more prizes, Dart continued raiding the seas off the coast of Maine and Massachusetts until October 22, 1813, when she was captured by the U.S. revenue cutter Vigilant and returned to American ownership.