Jean Laffite the Pirate Jean

Jean Laffite "The Pirate"

Jean Lafitte

The Gentlemen Pirate

This work is a biographical essay on the life of Jean Laffite, a well-known Pirate who is said to have been born in France. The Laffites were involved in a rebellion and were said to have reached New Orleans in approximately the year of 1804. Historical accounts relates that Laffite was chief of a band of pirates who established their headquarters in the Gulf of Mexico somewhere south of New Orleans from where Laffite commanded a fleet of ships raiding Spanish as well as neutral vessels. There was a monetary reward offered for the capture of Laffite by the Governor of Louisiana in 1813 and Laffite responded with his own offer. Laffite was never prosecuted under the law.

The information for this essay was obtained through a research online via the Internet. Information for the references cited is located in the Bibliography section of this document.

Purpose/Objective:

pardon was offered to Laffite during the year of 1814 by the British if he would assist them in attacking New Orleans but Lafitte refused and informed the U.S. Of the plans which resulted in Lafitte fighting for Andrew Jackson in the Battle of New Orleans in the year of 1815 and receiving a pardon from the President James Madison. No one is sure where Laffite died. It has been said that Laffite played a heroic part in the Battle of New Orleans. The objective of this work is to research and attempt to determine the truthfulness of this statement in the literature available.

I. Jean Laffitte:

Jean Laffitte was born in approximately 1780 and died in approximately 1825. The legendary pirate was born in Bayonne, France to a father who was a Frenchmen and a mother who was Spanish. Jean had an older brother named Pierre who was four years his senior. The family eventually through migration wound up on the Island of Espanola but fled there during the rebellion. It is believed that Pierre and Laffitte reached New Orleans sometime in the year of 19804 and that by 1808 they were fully involved in a smuggling ring that ran goods from Barataria to New Orleans, Louisiana.

The Laffitte brothers were fully involved in the business owning shares in many privateering missions sailing in the Gulf and the Caribbean. (TSHA) Another account of the Laffite brother states that they made it to New Orleans in the year of 1809 and set up a blacksmith shop that doubled as a smuggled goods depot as well as slaves which privateers also brought ashore. Stated to be an "illicit colony" on the "secluded islands of Barataria Bay" located south of New Orleans. This group was said to hold privateer commissions from modern day Colombia which was Cartagena at the time as well as making prey of Spanish commerce ship routes and then illegally selling the spoils through connections with mainland merchants.

II. Laffite and Governor Claiborne:

Laffite and his brother's activities came to the notice of the Governor of Louisiana, Governor William C.C. Claiborne who put an offer of reward on Laffitee's head for his capture in the amount of Five-Hundred dollars ($500.00). Quiet amusingly so Laffite put a return reward on the Governor's head in the amount of Fifteen-Hundred Dollars ($1,500.00) However an interesting even occurred in the year of 1812 when the United States of American was at war with the British. Barataria Bay was important in a geographic sense in that it was an important access or approach to New Orleans.

The British, intent upon infiltrating New Orleans offered Jean Laffite the amount of Thirty-Thousand dollars ($30,000) plus appointment as a captain in the British Royal Navy, if he would assist them with entering New Orleans. Laffitte, pretending to cooperate with the British, warned the officials in Louisiana of the impending attack. However, Governor W.C.C. Claiborne didn't believe Laffitte and called upon the United States Army and the United States Navy to completely wipe out the colony from existence.

III. Laffitte and General Jackson: The Battle of New Orleans

The U.S. Army and Navy attacked Laffitte and captured some of his ships. Laffitte still announcing his loyalty to the United States offered his assistance to the worn and weary troops of General Andrew Jackson defending New Orleans in exchange for a full pardon for himself and his men. General Jackson accepted the proposition and Laffite and his men, now called the Baratarians, fought with all their might in the Battle of New Orleans which took place in December of 1814 and January of 1815. General Jackson said that Laffite was "one of the ablest men" in battle and a proclamation of pardon was issued by James Madison, President, for Laffite and his men. (Encyclopedia Britannica, 1998)

IV. Laffitte: The Hero

According to writer Nola Mae Ross:

One of the little known facts about Jean Laffitte is his heroic part in the Battle of New Orleans."

Related by Ross (nd) is the fact that General Jackson reportedly wrote a letter to Laffitte at the war's end which stated:

have had frequent occasions to avail myself of your activity and zeal for the service. I consider you, Sir, as one of those to whom the country is most indebted for the victory of the Battle of New Orleans. I feel great pleasure in giving this testimony of your worth and to add the sincere assurance of my private friendship and high esteem of you. "Ross (nd)