The Captives

"James Leander Cathcart (1767-1843), a seaman...was captured by Barbary pirates and imprisoned for 11 years in the 1780s in Algiers. Buying his freedom, he returned to the United States." -Arizona Daily Star, Dec. 1, 2002 "James Leander Cathcart...was captured on the Maria, made a fortune while still a slave and served as the ruling Dey's secretary." -Baltimore Sun, Oct. 9, 1966 "The first American hostages held by a Moslem country were captured by Algerian pirates in 1785...James Leandor Cathca