USS Chesapeake

Chesapeake
During the NAPOLEONIC WARS, Britain insisted on the right to search neutral ships on the high seas for Royal Navy deserters. On 22 June 1807 HMS Leopard forcibly took 4 seamen from the American frigate Chesapeake. Despite apologizing to the US government and returning the 2 seamen who were Americans, the British continued to claim the right of inspection. This angered the American public, and the incident contributed to the tension leading to the WAR OF 1812. Britain gained a symbolic victory during the war when HMS Shannon captured the Chesapeake off Boston on 1 June 1813 and later towed her triumphantly into Halifax harbour.

Author CARL A. CHRISTIE

Links to Other Sites
Historica-Dominion Institute
The website for the Historica-Dominion Institute, parent organization of The Canadian Encyclopedia and the Encyclopedia of Music in Canada. Check out their extensive online feature about the War of 1812, the "Heritage Minutes" video collection, and many other interactive resources concerning Canadian history, culture, and heritage.

Battle of the Châteauguay National Historic Site of Canada
This site offers a summary of issues that precipitated the War of 1812 as well as details of the role of British commander Charles-Michel d’Irumberry de Salaberry in the 1813 Battle of the Châteauguay. From Parks Canada.

The “Shannon's” crew boarding the “Chesapeake”
An artist’s depiction of the crew of the HMS Shannon boarding the USS Chesapeake. From the NYPL Digital Gallery.

Unturned Stones in War of 1812 Studies
This article identifies a number of significant, but underreported, events in the War of 1812. From the War of 1812 Magazine.

More on: Leading Myths of the War of 1812
Scroll down the page for a brief note about the timing of the implementation of the terms of the Treaty of Ghent and other issues concerning the War of 1812. From the War of 1812 magazine.