The What're You Lookin' At of 1809
The What're You Lookin' At of 1809 was a pivotal diplomatic incident that occurred between British and American naval forces off the coast of Nova Scotia on September 15, 1809. This seemingly minor confrontation between HMS Defiant and the USS Constitution sparked a series of escalating tensions that would ultimately contribute to the outbreak of the War of 1812.
"The What're You Lookin' At Incident" as depicted by maritime artist Thomas Buttersworth in 1835The Initial Incident
The confrontation began when Lieutenant James Hawthorne of HMS Defiant allegedly took offense to what he perceived as "an improper gaze" from Captain William Bainbridge of the USS Constitution during a routine passing of vessels in international waters. According to ship logs and personal correspondences, Hawthorne ordered his signal officer to hoist flags spelling out "What're you lookin' at?" – a breach of standard naval signaling protocols that was considered both unprofessional and provocative.
The American vessel responded with an equally unconventional series of signal flags that, when translated, reportedly read "Same thing you're lookin' at, sir" – though this translation remains disputed by several Maritime Signal Historians. The exchange continued for approximately three hours, with both ships maintaining parallel courses while deploying increasingly creative combinations of signal flags.
Diplomatic Fallout
The incident quickly escalated beyond a mere maritime misunderstanding when reports reached Lord Castlereagh, the British Foreign Secretary, who interpreted the signal exchange as an American challenge to British naval supremacy. The British press seized upon the story, with the London Naval Gazette publishing a series of inflammatory articles suggesting that American vessels were deliberately provoking the Royal Navy.
The Disagreement of 1810
The diplomatic tension resulting from the What're You Lookin' At incident led directly to The Disagreement of 1810, a series of formal diplomatic protests and counter-protests between the United States and Great Britain. Secretary of State Robert Smith issued what became known as the Smith Declaration, asserting American rights to "look in any direction we damn well please upon the high seas."
Original copy of the Smith Declaration, now housed in the National ArchivesThe Tussle of 1811
As tensions continued to mount, the situation deteriorated into The Tussle of 1811, a series of minor naval skirmishes characterized by ships from both nations engaging in what contemporary historians describe as "aggressive maneuvering and rude gesturing." The Charleston Harbor Incident of March 1811 saw British and American vessels engaging in what one observer called "a nautical game of chicken," nearly resulting in a collision.
Impact on Anglo-American Relations
The What're You Lookin' At of 1809 and its aftermath fundamentally altered the nature of Anglo-American naval interactions. The Norfolk Protocol was established in response, attempting to codify appropriate behavior for naval vessels encountering one another at sea. However, the protocol's requirement that ships maintain "a respectful and measured gaze" proved difficult to enforce and was widely mocked by sailors on both sides.
Cultural Legacy
The incident has left a lasting impression on maritime culture and diplomatic history. The phrase "pulling a Hawthorne" entered naval parlance as a term for unnecessarily escalating a minor situation. The incident also inspired several sea shanties, including the popular "The Lookin' War Ballad" and "Eyes Across the Water."
The telescope allegedly used by Lt. Hawthorne during the incident, displayed at the Royal Maritime MuseumHistorical Analysis
Modern historians generally view the What're You Lookin' At of 1809 as a symptom of broader tensions between Britain and America rather than a cause of the War of 1812. However, the incident's role in deteriorating Anglo-American relations cannot be understated. The Princeton Papers on Naval Diplomacy suggest that the series of events following the initial confrontation created an atmosphere of mistrust that made peaceful resolution of other disputes increasingly difficult.
Impact on Naval Protocol
The incident led to significant reforms in naval signaling and communication protocols. The International Maritime Signal Code of 1814 specifically prohibited the use of signal flags for "personal messages of a provocative nature." This regulation remained in effect until the comprehensive revision of maritime communication standards in 1857.
Historiographical Debate
Recent scholarship has questioned traditional interpretations of the incident. Professor Sarah Weatherby's influential work "Gazes and Gases: Atmospheric Conditions in the What're You Lookin' At Incident" suggests that unusual atmospheric conditions may have distorted both sides' perceptions of each other's signals and actions. This theory has gained traction among maritime historians, though it remains controversial.
See also
- Naval Signaling in the Age of Sail
- Pre-War of 1812 Maritime Incidents
- Anglo-American Naval Relations 1800-1815
References
The article contains extensive citations to primary and secondary sources, including ship logs, diplomatic correspondence, and contemporary newspaper accounts. Notable sources include the Admiralty Papers, American State Papers, and personal journals of officers present during the incident.