Jerome Randolph Garitee (1929-2020)

Jerome R. Garitee had a lengthy career teaching history in Baltimore County schools and at Essex Community College. He also wrote The Republic’s Private Navy, which was meticulously researched explaining how the system of privateering functioned in Baltimore during the War of 1812. Of course, the Battle of Baltimore has been well-documented and celebrated, but Baltimore was involved in another aspect of the conflict – on the open seas. Baltimore merchants pooled their resources to finance individual privateering ships. Each merchant spread the risks by financing a variety of ships, as no one knew whether a voyage would be successful. They had the shipyards build ships that were fast enough to outsail the British. Overall, Baltimore privateers captured 500 British merchant vessels, the largest number from any port. Once a British ship was captured, it had to be brought to a port, and then the cargo would be auctioned and the proceeds divided between the crew and the merchants; but sometimes the British recaptured the ship. Thomas Boyle, commanding the Chasseur, also dubbed the Pride of Baltimore, was the best known privateer who caused havoc in the home waters around the British Isles by capturing 18 ships.

Obituary:

On September 19, 2020, Jerome Randolph Garitee, beloved husband of the late Maria Garitee (nee Zaetz); devoted father of Meridith Muehleib and her husband Jeff, Lynn Laubach and her husband Jeff, Andrea Garitee Batton and her husband Scott; loving grandfather of Tristan Muehleib, Stephanie Lambert, Catherine Madden, Drew Laubach, Liz Kidwell, Samantha Laubach, Emily Laubach, Taylor Randolph Batton, Maria Batton; cherished great grandfather of Jackson, Callie, Cole, Baxter, Sam, and Abby. Dr. Garitee is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.

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