Every source I've read tells me that privateers were private persons and ships authorized by the government. But no source ever said WHO they were and what branch of government authorized them. WHO could afford to launch a privateer ship in the 1700's? | AskHistorians Archive Observer

Every source I've read tells me that privateers were private persons and ships authorized by the government. But no source ever said WHO they were and what branch of government authorized them. WHO could afford to launch a privateer ship in the 1700's?

by NikKerk

Who financed privateers? Where did they get their crews and armaments from? What was the authorization process like?

voyeur324

/u/DBHT14 has previously answered The US Constitution allows Congress to grant Letters of Marque, have that ever been done, what was the context?

/u/the_direful_spring has more recently answered Why were there privateers? And why did they end up disappearing?