Decatur (privateer)

The Decatur was an American schooner built in Charleston, South Carolina for privateering during the Atlantic Ocean theater of the War of 1812. She was named for the United States Navy Commodore Stephen Decatur who served with distinction in many of America's earliest conflicts. She was the largest privateer out of Charleston.

Decatur is best known for being commanded by Captain Dominique Diron, who captured several British ships during the Napoleonic Wars and the War of 1812. Captain Diron defeated the stronger Royal Navy schooner HMS Dominica (1810) in an action off Bermuda on 5 August 1813. After a long engagement the Americans chased down the Dominca and boarded, forcing down her colors and killing her commander in the process.

The next day, Decatur captured the merchantman London Trader and sent her into Charleston. She may have been in company with Dominica, and though armed, had taken no part in the battle. Similarly, the merchantman Princess Charlotte, also in company and also armed, had observed the battle and when she saw that Dominica had surrendered, had herself escaped.

In November Decatur went to sea again. However, after cruising for 80 days without success, returned to Charleston.

On 22 May 1814, HMS Majestic (1785) recaptured Dominica, though she was lost in 1815.

Fate
On 5 June 1814 HMS Rhin (1806) sighted and gave chase to an American privateer schooner. After an eleven-hour chase Rhin captured the privateer, in the Mona Passage about four leagues from Cape Engaño. She turned out to be the Decatur, still under Diron's command. Decatur had sailed from Charleston on 30 March and had made no captures.