A total of 1,441 vessels were licensed by the High Court of Admiralty to operate as privateers in the wars of 1702–13 and 1718–20. There were periods in the eighteenth century – particularly during the American Revolutionary War – when there was even greater privateering activity, but there was never a time when it was to be more respectable and valued than during the reigns of Queen Anne and King George I. Indeed for much of the eighteenth century privateering was considered an important and honourable activity that contributed greatly to the country's maritime achievement. At the start of the War of the Spanish Succession public prints made clear what they considered to be the nation's priorities. The Observator, which offered itself as the spokesman for merchants and traders, pronounced: ‘In a War at Sea, the chief Care ought to be the Security of our merchant Ships, by providing sufficient Convoys, and next to that, the encouragement of Privateers.’

Newspapers printed letters of ‘instruction’ from borough electors to their MPs: ‘You will contribute your utmost assistance for the Encouragement of Privateers in relation to the prizes they shall take or any other Naval Forces for the annoying of the Enemy, and serving the Trade and Commerce of this Nation.’ The relative strength of British and French privateering activity was much discussed and the supposed disadvantages suffered by the British privateer decried: