Little Belt affair

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Little Belt affair
Part of the events leading to the War of 1812
A 16 May 1811 engraving shows USS President battling HMS Little Belt
Date 16 May 1811 Location Off North Carolina, Atlantic Ocean Result American victory
Belligerents
United Kingdom	United States
Commanders and leaders
Arthur Bingham	John Rodgers
Strength
1 sloop-of-war 20 guns	1 frigate 56 guns
Casualties and losses
11 killed 21 wounded 1 sloop-of-war severely damaged	1 wounded 1 frigate slightly damaged

The Little Belt affair was a naval battle on the night of 16 May 1811. It involved the United States frigate USS President and the British sixth-rate HMS Little Belt, a sloop-of-war, which had originally been the Danish ship Lillebælt, before being captured by the British in the 1807 Battle of Copenhagen. The encounter took place off the North Carolina coast. The Little Belt Affair was one of many incidents and events that led to the War of 1812.