The British Navy's Practice of Impressment Before the War of 1812

Impressment, the practice of forcibly recruiting sailors into naval service, was a contentious issue between the United States and Britain prior to the War of 1812. This practice, carried out by the British navy, involved seizing American sailors and forcing them to serve on British ships. The British claimed they were reclaiming deserters, but many of the men they impressed were actually American citizens. This violation of American sovereignty and individual rights was a major factor in the lead up to the War of 1812.

Impressment was a longstanding practice in the British navy, dating back to the 17th century. During times of war, the British navy faced a constant shortage of sailors, leading them to resort to impressment to fill their ranks. British naval officers would board American ships and search for British deserters or men they believed to be British subjects. However, in their search for these individuals, they often impressed American citizens who had no allegiance to Britain.

The practice of impressment was deeply resented by Americans, who saw it as a violation of their rights as citizens. The British navy's aggressive enforcement of impressment led to numerous incidents between American and British ships, further straining relations between the two nations. Despite diplomatic efforts to resolve the issue, impressment continued to be a source of tension between the United States and Britain.

One notable incident of impressment involved Seaman Charles Davis, who was forcibly taken from an American ship by British officers. Davis, like many other American sailors, was wrongly accused of being a British deserter and pressed into service on a British vessel. His case became emblematic of the injustices of impressment and fueled anti-British sentiment in the United States.

The War of 1812 was ultimately sparked by a combination of factors, including impressment, trade restrictions, and territorial disputes. The British navy's continued practice of impressment, despite American protests, played a significant role in pushing the United States towards war. The conflict would ultimately end in a stalemate, but it marked a turning point in American-British relations.

In the aftermath of the War of 1812, impressment gradually fell out of favor as a recruitment practice. The British navy began to rely more on voluntary enlistment and the use of professional sailors, reducing the need for impressment. The legacy of impressment, however, continued to shape perceptions of British naval power and influence American attitudes towards the British.

Summer 2012, Vol. 44, No. 2 Impressment of Seaman Charles Davis by the U.S. Navy By John P. Deeben Enlarge British officers inspect a group of sailors on an American ship, searching for potential deserters to impress into service.