The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the United States and the United Kingdom, which lasted from 1812 to 1815. One significant battle during this war was the Battle of Valparaíso, which occurred on March 28, 1814, off the coast of Chile.
During this battle, two American naval vessels, the USS Essex and the Essex Junior, were captured by two Royal Navy vessels, the HMS Phoebe and the HMS Cherub. The USS Essex was a 32-gun frigate commanded by Captain David Porter.
The loss of the USS Essex was a significant blow to the American navy, as it was one of the most powerful frigates in service at the time. Its capture marked a significant victory for the British, who had been suffering a string of defeats at the hands of the American navy. The British took both American vessels as prizes and later sold them.
The Battle of Valparaíso was just one of many battles fought during the War of 1812. Although it did not have a significant impact on the outcome of the war, it demonstrated the British navy’s superiority over the American navy at sea. The war eventually ended with the signing of the Treaty of Ghent, which restored the pre-war borders between the United States and British North America, but did not address the issue
References:
https://www.usni.org/magazines/naval-history-magazine/2007/april/valparaiso-incident-reassessed
https://cl.usembassy.gov/u-s-u-k-chile-commemorate-200th-anniversary-battle-valparaiso/
