Hercules (1796 ship)
Hercules was launched at Bristol in 1796 as a West Indiaman. In 1815 A United States privateer captured her but the Royal Navy recaptured her. Because the recapture occurred after 1 March 1815, she was returned to the United States. Career. "Hercules" first appeared in "Lloyd's Register" ("LR") in 1796. Fate. On 9 February 1815 "Hercules", Rae, master, passed Tenerife in company with "Josephine", Gillies, master. "Hercules" was on her way from Bristol to Jamaica, and "Josephine" was on her way from Liverpool to St Lucia. They had parted from the West Indies convoy on 29  January in a gale. On 24 February 1815, the United States letter of marque "Hollins", of 10 guns and 70 men, captured "Hercules" at , some east of Barbados. "Hollins" took out part of "Hercules"s cargo and stores and sent her to America. Rae and his crew arrived at Grenada on 5 March. The schooner recaptured "Hercules" off Abacco on 9 March, and reportedly sent her to Halifax. "Hercules" arrived at Nassau. There she was to be returned to the Americans. All British vessels American vessels had captured prior to 1 March and still in American possession after that date were  returned to them, even if the vessels had been recaptured after 1 March. The reason was that the Treaty of Ghent, which ended the War of 1812 between the United Kingdom and the United States, took effect on 1 March. Therefore, any vessel that the Americans had captured before March 1, i.e., during wartime, such as "Hercules", was a valid prize, and a vessel recaptured after 1 March, such as "Hercules", was recaptured during peacetime, and so not a valid prize. Notes, citations, and references. Notes Citations References