Thomas Boyle
| Thomas Boyle | |
|---|---|
| Born |
June 29, 1775 Marblehead, Massachusetts |
| Died | October 12, 1825 (aged 50) At sea |
| Allegiance |
 United States
|
| Service/branch |
 United States Navy
|
| Years of service | 16 April–September 1813 |
| Rank | Sailing Master |
| Battles/wars | War of 1812 |
| Other work | Privateer |
Thomas Boyle (29 June 1775 – 12 October 1825) was one of the most successful Baltimore privateer captains during the War of 1812. He also served briefly in the United States Navy during the war.
Born in Marblehead, Massachusetts, Boyle went to sea at 10 or 11 years of age and assumed his first command at the age of 16. In 1794, he moved his base of operation to Baltimore, Maryland. Soon after the War of 1812 began, Boyle took command of the privateer Comet and during his first cruise—conducted in the West Indies between 11 July and 7 October 1812—captured four vessels with an aggregate value of $400,000. On his second cruise, he sailed along the Brazilian coast, departing Baltimore on 25 November 1812. Though he made five captures, his second voyage was a financial disaster because British cruisers retook all five prizes. On 17 March 1813, Boyle slipped past the British blockade into Chesapeake Bay.
During the spring of 1813 the Royal Navy tightened its grip on the Chesapeake and blocked escape by Baltimore privateers. Comet and two other privateers were contracted by the Navy to patrol and observe British movements, and Boyle accepted a warrant as sailing master in the United States Navy on 16 April 1813. His brief Navy career lasted only until 8 September 1813 when he began to prepare Comet for her third voyage as a privateer.
On 29 October 1813, he and his ship slipped through the blockade in heavy weather. During that cruise to the West Indies, Boyle and his crew captured 20 prizes before returning to the United States at Beaufort, North Carolina, on 19 March 1814. Boyle left Comet at Beaufort and headed north to Baltimore and thence to New York City where he took command of the privateer Chasseur, of which he was part owner. The privateer tried to put to sea on 24 July, but British warships obliged her to wait four days off Staten Island.
...
Wikipedia