Antoine-Joseph Preira

Antoine-Joseph Preira (born 1782, Portugal[1]), also known under the nom de guerre of Balidar, was of Portuguese origin but operated in the English Channel as a privateer under the French flag during the Napoleonic Wars.

[12] On 17 March 1809 Lloyd's List reported that Embuscade had captured Vanguard after an action lasting an hour and a half.

[13] On 21 May, Embuscade departed La Hougue to patrol off England; two days later, she returned, bringing with her the brig Favourite, Captain Pike, master, from Yarmouth, as his prize.

[15] In September 1809 the French privateer Pourvoyeur, of Dieppe, captured the cutter John Bull and carried her into that port.

[4] At the time, Balidar is listed as captain of Indomptable,[4] a ship with 120 to 120 men and 18 guns,[23] formerly the Revenue Cutter Swan, out of Cowes.

[24] On 1 October 1810, Indomptable encountered a British convoy off The Lizard in thick fog, and captured the merchantman Roden; Balidar released her master and crew, who proceeded to warn the escorting frigate HMS Owen Glendower.

Sentenced to 10 years of prison, Balidar fled, probably to Central America, where he might have taken part in the Mexican War of Independence.