Privateer

Charlestown Naval Yard in Boston, home of "Old Ironsides". This chap belongs to a naval historical society. Today he was the captain of an American Privateer, a sort of legal pirate as he had a Letter of Marque from the government which gave him permission to attack enemy ships, in this case British as he was representing the War of 1812 - 14.

Of course the Americans were just doing what the English, French et al had done before them - all's fair in love & war.

Here's a Canadian view of the subject.