Into the early 1800's, privately-owned warships were not at all rare. During the Revolutionary War the vast majority of the Navy consisted of privateers (aka pr

Into the early 1800's, privately-owned warships were not at all rare. During the Revolutionary War the vast majority of the Navy consisted of privateers (aka private citizens warships). http://www.usmm.org/revolution.html http://www.usmm.org/revolution.html