During the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic eras, France was plagued by war and crop failures and was desperately in need of supplies. Legally and illegally, French privateers and cruisers took cargo from merchant vessels of every nation, perhaps the United States more than any other. At least 6,479 U.S. claims involving more than 2,300 vessels were filed and these claims give a close approximation of American goods lost to the French.
The three main sections of this reference book present a comprehensive accounting of the losses (arranged by ship), descriptions of court cases involving important questions of law, and the disposition of claims. Also included are a glossary, a list of geographical locations mentioned in the text, and an overview of relevant acts of Congress, proclamations, treaties, and foreign decrees.

Greg H. Williams served four years in the Navy, including duty on the converted Liberty ship USS Granville S. Hall (YAG–40). He was one of 27 volunteer crewmen who made the entire five month voyage from San Francisco to Europe on the Jeremiah O’Brien in 1994 for the 50th anniversary of the Normandy Invasion. He lives near Noti, Oregon.

Greg H. Williams
Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages: 558
Bibliographic Info: glossary, appendices, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2009
pISBN: 978-0-7864-3837-2
eISBN: 978-0-7864-5407-5
Imprint: McFarland

Introduction      1

A General Chronology of Major Events      7

Section I: Reported Losses      43

Section II: Cases Illustrating Important Questions of Law      371

Section III: Disposition of Claims Under the Act of January 20, 1885      413

Appendix I: Glossary      473

Appendix II: Geographical Locations      474

Appendix III: Foreign Decrees, Treaties, and Acts of Congress      479

Bibliography      495

Index      497

“a fine reference work…[Williams’] newest effort is truly outstanding”—Nautical Research Journal.