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Revenue Cutters capturing an American Smuggling vessel
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Revenue Cutters capturing an American Smuggling vessel
British Revenue Cutters capturing an American Smuggling vessel. Date: circa 1770
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Media ID 23092754
© Mary Evans Picture Library
1770s Boarding Boards Capture Captures Capturing Cutter Cutters Regulations Revenue Smuggler Smugglers Smuggling Enforce Enforcing
EDITORS COMMENTS
In this evocative image from the 1770s, a British Revenue Cutter boldly seizes an American smuggling vessel during the tense and tumultuous era of the 18th century. The scene unfolds on the open sea, with the Revenue Cutter's crew, dressed in their distinctive red coats and tricorn hats, skillfully maneuvering their boat alongside the smaller American vessel. The smugglers, sensing their imminent capture, scramble to resist, brandishing makeshift weapons and attempting to evade their pursuers. The British Revenue Cutters, established in the late 17th century, were responsible for enforcing customs regulations and collecting duties on goods imported into the British colonies. Their presence was a constant source of frustration for American colonists, who saw the imposition of British taxes as a violation of their rights. Smuggling became a common response to this perceived injustice, with American traders risking capture and prosecution to evade the Revenue Cutters and bring in contraband goods. Despite the dangers, the allure of illicit trade was strong, and the waters around the American colonies teemed with smuggling vessels. The British Revenue Cutters, determined to uphold the law, pursued these ships relentlessly, often engaging in high-stakes chases and boarding actions like the one depicted in this image. The capture of an American smuggling vessel was a significant victory for the British authorities, but it also fueled the growing resentment between the colonists and the mother country. This powerful and evocative image offers a glimpse into the complex and contentious relationship between the American colonies and the British Empire during the 18th century, a time of shifting allegiances, clashing ideologies, and the seeds of revolution.
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