Young Teazer was a United States privateer schooner that captured 12 British vessels, five of which made it to American ports. A member of her crew blew her up at Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia during the War of 1812 after a series of British warships chased her and after trapped her. The schooner became famous for this deadly explosion, which killed most of her crew, and for the folklore about the ghostly "Teazer Light." Historical context Many American privateers attacked British shipping off the coast of Nova Scotia during the War of 1812, which forced the British to deploy warships to patrol North American waters to forestall attacks and capture the American raiders. The Royal Navy tried to protect British merchant shipping to and from Halifax, Nova Scotia and the West Indies while enforcing a blockade of major American ports aimed at restricting American trade. Both sides used privateers in the War of 1812, but the United States made greater use of them. The Americans used hit-and-run tactics to capture prizes, generally engaging Royal Navy vessels only under favorable circumstances. Young Teazers predecessor was the American schooner , one of the first privateers to put to sea when the United States declared war. captured Teazer in December 1812 and burned her at sea. Her crew were released on parole, promising not to serve against the British until they had been exchanged for British prisoners of war. Teazers owner Samuel Adams of New York had the schooner Young Teazer built as a replacement. Engagement Young Teazer had an initial successful cruise. In May 1813, she captured the British prize and sent her into Portland, Maine, where she arrived around 1 June. On 23 May Young Teazer captured the Falmouth Post Office Packet Service packet . Young Teazer left Portland on 3 June 1813 with 73 men on her second and final cruise under the command of William D. Dobson. On 1 June 1813, captured outside Boston Harbor and towed her to Halifax, Nova Scotia. While this was occurring, the crew of Young Teazer boarded a vessel off La Have but then released her, as she was in ballast and not worth taking. When the vessel reached Halifax, she reported the privateer's presence and description. Young Teazer then captured two vessels off Sambro Island Light at the entrance to Halifax Harbor. She escaped possible capture by running into the harbor and raising