My understanding is that Americans born in America were recognized not to be British citizens, but those born in Britain who later emigrated were considered Bri

My understanding is that Americans born in America were recognized not to be British citizens, but those born in Britain who later emigrated were considered British citizens. That said, over a third of sailors on American ships were British citizens who were pursuing higher pay and better conditions. And then per https://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/2012/summer/1812-impressment.html https://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/2012/summer/1... there is the case of Charles Davis, an Englishman impressed into the US navy. We have no records of how common that was.