After delays by the United States government to sign a treaty, the Sultan of Morocco Mohammed bin Abdallah ordered the capture of the ship.

The sultan's desire for friendly relations with the United States reached Benjamin Franklin in Paris in late April or early May 1778.

After continued delays, the sultan decided to take action to gain the attention of the American leaders in the early fall of 1784.

On 11 October 1784, the Moroccans captured the Philadelphia merchant ship Betsey after it left Cádiz on its way back to the United States.

The sultan paved the way for a peaceful negotiation climate by releasing the Betsey, its crew, and cargo on July 9, 1785,[1] after Spanish intervention and payment by the United States of ransom of $30,000.