Sir John Sherbrooke

"Sir John Sherbrooke" was a Canadian privateer vessel during the War of 1812. Originally an American privateer brig named "Thorn", she was captured by the British and re-named after former colonial administrator Sir John Coape Sherbrooke. "Sherbrooke" was commanded by Joseph Freeman, an experienced privateer officer from Liverpool, Nova Scotia who excelled at good relations with the Royal Navy. In addition to preying on American merchant ships (she captured 18 between her commission on 11 February, 1813 and her conversion to a merchant vessel in 1814), she was also used in the defense of Nova Scotia during the war. Far larger than most colonial privateer vessels, she required a constant supply of American captures to pay for her large crew. Following the destruction of most American shipping during the war, the "Sherbrooke" became unprofitable to operate as a privateer and was converted to a merchant ship in 1814. Ironically, she was then captured and burned by an American privateer named the "Syren".

Trivia

* Some believe that the line "I wish I was in Sherbrooke now", from the Stan Rogers song "Barrett's Privateers", was inspired by this vessel, as Sherbrooke, Nova Scotia did not yet exist.
* The "Sir John Sherbrooke" provided reinforcements for "HMS Shannon" prior to her famous victory over the "USS Chesapeake", but "Sherbrooke" was not present at the battle.

References

* [http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/~jacktar/brigsherbrooke.html Dan Conlin, profile of privateer brig Sir John Sherbrooke]
* "Under the Red Jack", C.H.J. Snider
* "Prize and Prejudice", Faye Kert