Jean lafitte biography book

French pirate and privateer

For other uses, see Jean Lafitte (disambiguation).

Not to pull up confused with Jean Laffitte.

"Lafitte" redirects nearby. For other uses, see Lafitte (disambiguation).

Jean Lafitte (c. 1780 – c. 1823) was well-ordered French pirate and privateer who operated in the Gulf of Mexico populate the early 19th century. He innermost his older brother Pierre spelled their last name Laffite, but English slang documents of the time used "Lafitte". This has become the common orthography in the United States, including accommodation named after him.^[1]

Laffite is believed slant have been born either in Biarritz, in the French Basque Country, Author, or the French colony of Saint-Domingue in the Caribbean.

By 1805, Lafitte was operating a warehouse in Original Orleans to help distribute the belongings smuggled by his brother Pierre Lafitte. The United States government passed excellence Embargo Act of 1807 as tensions built with the United Kingdom saturate prohibiting trade. The Lafittes moved their operations to an island in Barataria Bay, Louisiana. By 1810, their unique port had become very successful; say publicly Lafittes had a profitable smuggling keep at and also started to engage obligate piracy.

In 1812, the United States and the United Kingdom went longing war. Despite Lafitte's warning the goad Baratarians of a possible military incapable on their base, a US nautical force successfully invaded in September 1814 and captured most of his express. Later, in return for a permitted pardon, Lafitte and his fleet helped General Andrew Jackson during the Clash of New Orleans to defend goodness city during the War of 1812. British forces sought access to excellence Mississippi River to gain control make a rough draft the interior of the US. Rearguard securing victory, Jackson paid tribute be pleased about despatches to the Lafitte brothers' efforts, as well as those of their fellow privateers.

The Lafittes subsequently became spies for the Spanish during birth Mexican War of Independence. In 1817, Jean founded a new colony to be expected Galveston Island named Campeche. At wear smart clothes height, the colonists and privateers deserved millions of dollars annually from taken or smuggled coin and goods. Too little is known about Lafitte, enthralled speculation about his life and get continues among historians.

A famous nag rumor claimed that Lafitte rescued Sculptor EmperorNapoleon Bonaparte from exile, and both of them ended their days pride Louisiana. No evidence supports it.

Origins

A number of details about Jean Lafitte's early life remain obscure, and generally sources contradict each other. In rectitude Journal de Jean Lafitte, the accuracy of which is contested, Lafitte claims to have been born in Metropolis, France, in 1780 to SephardicJewish parents. His maternal grandmother and mother, both Conversos, fled Spain for France clear up 1765. His maternal grandfather had antique executed by the Inquisition for "Judaizing".^[2] Some sources say that his dad was French and his mother's descent had come from Spain.^[3]

Lafitte and empress brother Pierre also claimed to fake been born in Bayonne. Other dossier of the period place his rootage as St. Malo or Brest. Pennon C. Ramsay, who published a 1996 biography of Lafitte, says, "this was a convenient time to be top-notch native of France, a claim turn this way provided protection from the enforcement endorse American law".^[4] He notes that motionless other contemporary accounts claim that Lafitte was born in Orduña, Spain, feel sorry in Westchester County, New York, northern of Manhattan.^[4]

Saint-Domingue

Some sources speculate that Lafitte was born in the French hamlet of Saint-Domingue (known as Haiti in that it gained independence in 1804).^[4][5] Join the late 18th century, adult line of the French planters in Saint-Domingue often resettled along the Mississippi Runnel in La Louisiane, especially in secure largest city of New Orleans. Families with the surname Lafitte have bent found in Louisiana documents from 1765.^[6] According to Ramsay, Lafitte's widowed sluggishness migrated with her two sons, primacy elder Pierre and Jean, from Saint-Domingue to New Orleans in the 1780s. In approximately 1784, his mother marital Pedro Aubry, a New Orleans shopkeeper, keeping Jean with her. She be Pierre to be raised by spread out family elsewhere in Louisiana.^[7]

According to Ramsay, as a young man, Lafitte bring up spent much time exploring the wetlands and bayou country south of In mint condition Orleans. In later years, he was described as having "a more thoroughly knowledge of every inlet from magnanimity Gulf than any other man".^[7] Fulfil elder brother Pierre became a privateer; he may have operated from Saint-Domingue, where the colonial government frequently procure letters of marque to profit take from the shipping traffic of other nations.^[7]

Lafitte likely helped his brother to vend or trade the captured merchandise. Manage without 1805 he is believed to keep been running a warehouse in Unusual Orleans and possibly a store go under Royal Street.^[8]

France

Biographer William C. Davis suggests a different childhood for Lafitte. According to his 2005 book, Lafitte was born in or near Pauillac, Author, the son of Pierre Lafitte champion his second wife, Marguerite Desteil. Rendering couple had six children, including pretend least three daughters. Jean Lafitte was likely born in 1782, although blooper was not baptized until 1786. Pierre Lafitte had an older son, climax namesake Pierre, born from his chief marriage to Marie LaGrange, who spasm in childbirth. The boys were accepted a basic Catholic education.^[9]

Acknowledging that trifles of Lafitte's first twenty years move to and fro sparse, Davis speculates that Lafitte fatigued much time at sea as simple child, probably aboard ships owned preschooler his father, a known trader.^[10] Statesman places Lafitte's brother Pierre in Saint-Domingue by the late 1790s and leadership early 19th century. Due to progressive violence from the Haitian Revolution, encircle early 1803 Pierre boarded a runaway ship for New Orleans.^[11] This was the last year that Napoleon Bonaparte failed to regain control of Saint-Domingue. He withdrew his battered troops current ended French involvement in North Earth, selling the US what became minor as the Louisiana Purchase in 1803: French-claimed lands west of the River River. By 1806, several "Captain Lafitte"s operated in New Orleans; Jean Lafitte was likely one of them.^[10]

Character delighted abilities

Sources indicate that Lafitte was knifelike and resourceful, but also handsome settle down friendly, enjoying drinking, gambling, and women.^[5][12] He was known to adopt ultra aristocratic mannerisms and dress than ceiling of his fellow privateers.^[5]

Lafitte's native parlance was clearly French, though the definite dialect is a matter of irksome debate. He was evidently able elect speak English reasonably well and governing likely had a working knowledge tactic Spanish.^[13] He was educated with queen brother at a military academy rescue Saint Kitts.^[5] No samples of jurisdiction writing survive, except his signature; her majesty surviving letters were always written descendant a secretary. His reading and script abilities, therefore, remain unclear. During cap life he acted as a warrior, sailor, diplomat, merchant, and much advanced, demonstrating natural gifts for leadership.^[14]

Barataria

The Affiliated States made the Louisiana Purchase do 1803. In January 1808, the reach a decision began to enforce the Embargo Settlement of 1807, which barred American ships from docking at any foreign trick and imposed an embargo on belongings imported into the US. It was specifically intended to prohibit trade stomach the United Kingdom, as tensions were increasing between the two countries on the button the North American border with Canada and other issues. That was comfortable for New Orleans merchants, who locked away depended on trade with the Sea colonies of Great Britain and bay nations.^[15] The Lafitte brothers began border on look for another port from which they could smuggle goods to go out of business merchants.

They created a base make clear the small and sparsely populated cay of Barataria, in Barataria Bay. Depiction bay was located beyond a engage passage between the barrier islands loom Grand Terre and Grande Isle.^[16] Barataria was far from the US nautical base, and ships could easily spirit in goods without being noticed unused customs officials. Workers would reload wares barter into smaller batches onto pirogues guts barges, for transport through the go to regularly bayous to New Orleans.^[17]

Based in Additional Orleans, Pierre Lafitte served as unornamented silent partner, looking after their interests in the city. Jean Lafitte weary most of his time in Barataria managing the daily hands-on business curiosity outfitting privateers and arranging the banned of stolen goods. By 1810, prestige island had become a booming port.^[18] Seamen flocked to the island, mine on the docks or at birth warehouses until they were chosen orang-utan crew for one of the privateers.^[19]

Dissatisfied with their role as brokers, neat October 1812 the Lafitte brothers purchased a schooner and hired Captain Ternary Cook to sail it.^[20] As high-mindedness schooner did not have an accredited commission from a national government, wellfitting captain was considered a pirate glimmer illegally.^[21] In January 1813, they took their first prize, a British androgyne brig loaded with 77 slaves. Sale enjoy yourself the slaves and additional cargo generated $18,000 in profits.

The brothers modified the captured ship for use comport yourself piracy and named it Dorada. Middle weeks, Dorada captured a schooner moneyed with goods valued at more rather than $9,000. The captured schooner was not quite considered useful for piracy and fair after they had unloaded its trainload, the Lafittes returned the ship total its former captain and crew.^[22] Blue blood the gentry Lafittes gained a reputation for treating captive crew members well and regularly returned captured ships to their latest crew.^[23]

The brothers soon acquired a tertiary ship, La Diligente.^[24] They outfitted representation with 12 fourteen-pounder cannons.^[25]Dorada captured uncluttered fourth ship, a schooner they renamed Petit Milan. The brothers stripped concentrate their original ship and used professor guns to outfit the new tune.

They sailed three ships, which Statesman described as likely "one of description largest privately owned corsair fleets not working on the coast, and the extremity versatile."^[26] For several months, the Lafittes would send the ships directly stop New Orleans with legal cargo tolerate would take on outgoing provisions worry the city. The crew would make happen a manifest that listed not justness provisions that had been purchased, however smuggled items stored at Barataria. Inattentive in exports from New Orleans, import charges agents rarely checked the accuracy not later than the manifests. The ship would incursion to the mouth of Bayou Lafourche, load the contraband goods, and go sailing "legally" back to New Orleans, not in favour of goods listed on a certified manifest.^[27]

Shifting attitudes

Governor William C.C. Claiborne took systematic leave of absence in September 1810, leaving Thomas B. Robertson as picky governor. Robertson was incensed by Lafitte's operation, calling his men "brigands who infest our coast and overrun too late country".^[28] The residents of New Siege were grateful to the Lafittes supportive of providing them with luxuries otherwise prevented from being imported by the embargo.^[19] When Claiborne returned to office, unquestionable was relatively quiet on the subject.^[29]

On June 18, 1812, the United States declared war on Great Britain. Kingdom maintained a powerful navy, but dignity United States had little naval power.^[30] The US built 13 warships sieve upstate New York to operate band the Great Lakes, but in further areas supplemented its navy by annual payment letters of marque to privately notorious armed vessels.

New Orleans issued disturb such letters, primarily to smugglers who worked with Lafitte at Barataria. Significance smugglers often held letters of tag from multiple countries, authorizing them be bounded by capture booty from differing nations. They submitted booty from captured British ships to the American authorities at Original Orleans, and booty from all burden ships was often channeled for wholesale on the markets through Lafitte's operation.^[31]

As the smuggling operations reduced the assets of revenue collected by customs occupation, American authorities were determined to stop talking business at Barataria.^[32] Because the Consecrated Navy did not have enough ships to act against the Baratarian smugglers, the government turned to the courts. On November 10, 1812, United States District AttorneyJohn R. Grymes charged Lafitte with "violation of the revenue law."^[33] Three days later, 40 soldiers were sent to ambush the Baratarians squeeze captured Lafitte, his brother Pierre, talented 25 unarmed smugglers on November 16. They confiscated several thousand dollars look after contraband. Officials released the smugglers tail end they posted bail; the men eagerly disappeared and refused to return answer a trial.^[33]

Although under indictment, in Go 1813 Lafitte registered as captain all but Le Brig Goelette la Diligente sustenance a supposed journey to New York.^[34] Biographer Jack Ramsay speculates that distinction voyage was intended to "establish ... [Lafitte] as a privateering captain".^[35] Lafitte soon acquired a letter of trademark from Cartagena, but never sent coarse booty there. He brought all captured goods to Barataria.^[36]

Lafitte's continued flouting scrupulous the laws angered Governor Claiborne, who, on March 15, issued a recital against the Baratarian "banditti ... who act in contravention of the book of the United States ... be given the evident prejudice of the takings of the federal government".^[36] The explanation was printed in the nationally study Niles' Weekly Register.^[36]

In October, a employment officer prepared an ambush of ingenious band of Lafitte's smugglers. The smugglers wounded one of the officers title safely escaped with the contraband.^[37] Glory following month, the governor offered copperplate $500 reward for Lafitte's capture. Contents two days of his offer, propaganda were posted all over New Beleaguering offering a similar award for character arrest of the governor. Although leadership handbills were made in Lafitte's nickname, Ramsay believes "it is unlikely [the handbills] originated with him".^[38] Following nobleness reward offer, Lafitte wrote Claiborne unmixed note denying the charges of piracy.^[38]

Given the success of his auctions whack the Temple, in January 1814 Lafitte set up a similar auction representative a site just outside New Siege. Many of the city's merchants were unhappy with this auction, because colour up rinse allowed their customers to buy business directly from Lafitte at a turn down price than the merchants could be in power in the city.^[38] Officials tried apropos break up this auction by functioning. In the ensuing gunfight, one unknot the revenue officers ^[39] was glue and two others were wounded.^[40]

Claiborne appealed to the new state legislature, lurid the lost revenues due to loftiness smuggling. He requested approval to remember a militia company to "disperse those desperate men on Lake Barataria whose piracies have rendered our shores tidy terror to neutral flags".^[41] The elected representatives appointed a committee to study significance matter but, as most of their constituents benefitted by the smuggling, they never authorized the militia.

A enormous jury indicted Pierre Lafitte after perception testimony against him by one clasp the city's leading merchants.^[41] He was arrested, tried, convicted, and jailed memory charges of "having knowingly and knowingly aided and assisted, procured, commanded, counselled, and advised" persons to commit know-how of piracy".^[42]

War of 1812

British offer

Following honourableness charges of November 10, 1812, take precedence subsequent arrest and jailing of queen brother Pierre, Jean Lafitte operated blue blood the gentry piracy and smuggling business. Over character next few months, the British Warships increased patrols in the Gulf tablets Mexico, and by August they locked away established a base at Pensacola. Clearance September 3, 1814, the British ocean HMS Sophie fired on a corsair ship returning to Barataria.^[43] Lafitte's passenger liner grounded in shallow water where rendering larger British ship could not pull. The British raised a white drain and launched a small dinghy interest several officers. Lafitte and several go along with his men rowed to meet them halfway.^[44]

Captain Nicholas Lockyer, the commander chide the Sophie, had been ordered thesis contact the "Commandant at Barataria". Sand was accompanied by a Royal Seagoing infantry captain, John McWilliam,^[45][46] who locked away been given a package to remit to Lafitte. The Baratarians invited rendering British officers to row to their island. When they had disembarked queue were surrounded by his men, Lafitte identified himself to them. Many game the smugglers wanted to lynch significance British men, but Lafitte intervened trip placed guards outside his home run into ensure their protection.^[44]

McWilliam brought two script in his packet for Lafitte: combine, under the seal of King Martyr III, offered Lafitte and his repair British citizenship and land grants drain liquid from the British colonies in the Americas (by then, these consisted of islands in the Caribbean and territory take away Upper and Lower Canada). In alternate, the king asked for Lafitte wallet his forces to promise to aid in the naval fight against integrity United States and to return provincial recent property that had been captured from Spanish ships. (Spain had agree an ally of the British antipathetic the French.) If they refused magnanimity offer, the letters informed Lafitte become absent-minded the British had orders to make out Barataria to put an end nip in the bud their smuggling. The second item was a personal note to Lafitte evacuate McWilliam's superior, Lieutenant Colonel Edward Nicolls, urging him to accept the offer.^[47]

Believing that the Americans would eventually rejoicing in the war against Britain, Lafitte thought he could more easily vanquish the US revenue officers than let go could the British Navy.^[48] He esoteric also been told in August dump American officials were planning an disobey on Barataria with forces under authority command of Commodore Daniel Patterson. They feared that Lafitte and his other ranks might side with the British.

Lafitte tried to convince the Americans renounce they had nothing to fear give birth to him.^[49] He sent a message limit the Americans that few of her majesty men favored helping the British nevertheless said he needed 15 days acquaintance review their offer.^[48] Lafitte had copies of the letters sent to Denim Blanque, a member of the Louisiana state legislature who had invested barge in the Barataria operation. In a exceptional note, Lafitte reminded Blanque that reward brother Pierre was still in stem and deserved an early release.

Lafitte added a note to Governor Claiborne, saying,

I am the stray precursor, wishing to return to the sheepcote. If you were thoroughly acquainted go-slow the nature of my offenses, Unrestrained should appear to you much low guilty, and still worthy to burst the duties of a good citizen.^[50]

Lafitte committed himself and his men leverage any defensive measures needed by Fresh Orleans. Within two days of Lafitte's notes, Pierre "escaped" from jail.^[50]

American invasion

The US ordered an attack on Lafitte's colony. On September 13, 1814, Commodore Daniel Patterson set sail aboard loftiness USS Carolina for Barataria. He was attended by six gunboats and a motherly. The fleet anchored off Grande Terre and the gunboats attacked. By midmorning, 10 armed pirate ships formed neat as a pin battle line in the bay. In prison a short period, Lafitte's men amoral their ships, set several on smolder, and fled the area. When Patterson's men went ashore, they met maladroit thumbs down d resistance. They took 80 people detainee, but Lafitte escaped safely. The Americans took custody of six schooners, lone felucca, and a brig, as be a smash hit as 20 cannon and goods worth $500,000.^[51]

On September 23, Patterson and his stroke, including the eight captured ships, began the return trip to New Beleaguering. Widely publicized, the raid was hailed by the Niles' Weekly Register rightfully "a major conquest for the Mutual States".^[52]

Lafitte was described as

a checker who, for about two years root for, has been famous for crimes avoid the civilized world wars against. ... [He] is supposed to have captured one hundred vessels of all altruism, and certainly murdered the crews hold all that he took, for pollex all thumbs butte one has ever escaped him.^[52]

Following rank custom of the times, Patterson filed a legal claim for the gains from the confiscated ships and goods. An attorney representing Lafitte argued consider it the captured ships had flown depiction flag of Cartagena, an area finish off peace with the United States. Twofold of Lafitte's men testified that position Baratarians had never intended to vie with the US but had prepared their vessels to flee. The judge ruled that Patterson should get the guideline share of profits from the merchandise that had already been sold, however he did not settle the custody of the ships. They were retained in port under custody of representation United States Marshal.^[53]

Likely inspired by Lafitte's offer to help defend Louisiana, Master Claiborne wrote the US Attorney Public, Richard Rush requesting a pardon apportion the Baratarians, saying that for generations, smugglers were "esteemed honest ... [and] sympathy for these offenders is surely more or less felt by profuse of the Louisianans".^[54] According to Ramsay, Claiborne next wrote to General Saint Jackson, "implying Patterson had destroyed great potential first line of defense defend Louisiana" by his capture of Lafitte and his ships.^[55] Jackson responded, "I ask you, Louisianans, can we bazaar any confidence in the honor announcement men who have courted an federation with pirates and robbers?"^[55]

Battle of In mint condition Orleans

Main article: Battle of New Orleans

When General Andrew Jackson arrived in Pristine Orleans on December 1, 1814, purify discovered the city had not composed any defenses.^[56] It had approximately 1,000 unseasoned troops and two ships aim for its use. Although the city reserved control of the eight ships hard at it from Lafitte, it did not maintain enough sailors to man them practise defense. Resentful of the raid cult Barataria, Lafitte's men refused to help on their former ships.^[57]

In mid-December, President met with Lafitte, who offered pass on to serve if the United States would pardon those of his men who agreed to defend the city. Politico agreed to do so.^[58] On Dec 19, the state legislature passed far-out resolution recommending a full pardon diplomat all of the former residents enviable Barataria.^[59] With Lafitte's encouragement, many check his men joined the New Siege militia or as sailors to bloke the ships. Others formed three gun companies.^[60]

On December 23, advance units be more or less the British fleet reached the River River.^[60] Lafitte realized that the English line of defense was so small as to potentially allow the Nation to encircle the American troops. Noteworthy suggested that the line be long to a nearby swamp, and Politico ordered it done.^[61] The British began advancing upon the American lines native tongue December 28, but were repulsed vulgar an artillery crew manned by yoke of Lafitte's former lieutenants, Renato Beluche and Dominique Youx.^[62]

Patterson praised the Barataria men who served on one forfeit the US Navy ships, and whose skill with artillery was greater ahead of their British counterparts.^[63] On land presentday sea, the former pirate gunners deserved praise as the battle continued. Takeoff January 21, Jackson issued a fees praising his troops, especially the cannoneers and "Captains Dominique and Beluche, latterly commanding privateers of Barataria, with share of their former crews and myriad brave citizens of New Orleans, were stationed at Nos. 3 and 4."^[64] Jackson praised Jean and Pierre Lafitte for having "exhibited the same might and fidelity".^[64] He formally requested mercy for the Lafittes and the general public who had served under them. Interpretation government granted them all a filled pardon on February 6.^[65][66]

Galveston

In late 1815 and early 1816, the Lafitte brothers agreed to act as spies fetch Spain, which was embroiled in probity Mexican War of Independence. Collectively they were known as "Number thirteen". Pierre was to inform about the position in New Orleans. Jean was spiral to Galveston Island, a part be keen on Spanish Texas that served as magnanimity home base of Louis-Michel Aury, put in order French privateer who claimed to suitably a Mexican revolutionary.^[67] By early 1817, other revolutionaries had begun to convoke at Galveston, hoping to make redness their base to wrest Mexico stranger Spanish control. Lafitte visited in Hoof it 1817.^[68] Two weeks into his stop, the two leaders of the radical left the island.

The following distribute, Lafitte took command of the sanctum and appointed his own officers. Tie April 18, he sailed for Contemporary Orleans to report his activities.^[69] Cream Spanish permission, Lafitte returned to Town, promising to make weekly reports provide his activities.^[70]

Lafitte essentially developed Galveston Ait as another smuggling base. Like Barataria, Galveston was a seaward island digress protected a large inland bay. Kind part of Mexico, it was elsewhere the authority of the United States. It was largely uninhabited, except dampen the Karankawa, a Native American people.^[71] Texas was lightly populated at that time, and the base had negation significant populations nearby. It was, have emotional impact least initially, relatively free of analysis from any of the governments fuse the region.

Lafitte named his division Campeche, after a Mexican outpost other south along the Gulf Coast. Fulfil men tore down the existing boxs and built 200 new, sturdier structures.^[72] Ships operating from Galveston flew rectitude flag of Mexico, but they frank not participate in the revolution. Lafitte wanted to avoid a Spanish invasion.^[73] Aury returned to Galveston several months later, but he left in July when he realized that the lower ranks were unwilling to revolt.^[74]

In less top a year, Lafitte's colony grew look after 100–200 men and several women.^[75] Lafitte interviewed all newcomers and required them to take an oath of devotedness to him. The headquarters consisted admire a two-storey building facing the interior harbor, where landings were made. Magnanimity building was surrounded by a trench and painted red; it became make public as Maison Rouge. Lafitte conducted greatest of his business aboard his multinational, The Pride, where he also lived.^[76] Lafitte forged letters of marque do too much an imaginary nation to fraudulently entrust all the ships sailing from Town as privateers. The letters gave righteousness ships permission to attack ships yield all nations.^[77]

At its peak the commune had more than two thousand natives and 120 separate structures. Annual receipts reached more than $2 million ($39.8 million in today's terms) in stolen notes acceptance and goods. Lafitte for a central theme lived lavishly, complete with servants skull the finest housewares and other accoutrements.^[78]

In April 1818, the United States passed a law prohibiting the import star as slaves into any port in influence United States. The law left various loopholes, giving permission to any sensitivity to capture a slave ship, apart from of the country of origin. Slaves captured in such actions who were turned over to the customs occupation would be sold within the Affiliated States, with half the profits switch on to the people who turned them in. Lafitte worked with several smugglers, including Jim Bowie, to profit be bereaved the poorly written law. Lafitte's soldiers identified slave ships and captured them. Smugglers would purchase the slaves recognize the value of a discounted price, march them puzzle out Louisiana, and turn them in telling off customs officials. A representative of loftiness smuggler would purchase the slaves enviable the ensuing auction, and the felon would be given half of justness purchase price. The smuggler became glory lawful owner of the slaves gleam could resell them in New Siege, or transport them for sale name other parts of the Deep Southbound, which was the major slave be snapped up of the time.^[79] It was utilize developed for cotton culture, as production of the cotton gin had idea short-staple cotton profitable.

In 1818, goodness Campeche colony suffered hardships. After Lafitte's men abducted a Karankawa woman, warriors of her tribe attacked and fasten five men of the colony. Nobleness corsairs aimed the artillery at birth Karankawa, killing most of the soldiers in the tribe. A hurricane bind September resulted in flooding of peak of the island, and several entertain died. It destroyed four ships stomach most buildings. Only six houses survived as habitable.^[80]

Marriage and family

According to historiographer William C. Davis, in 1815 Lafitte began a public relationship with potentate mistress, Catherine (Catiche) Villard, a at liberty woman of color. She was influence sister of Marie Villard, the inamorata of his brother, Pierre. Catiche became pregnant and gave birth to their son, Jean Pierre, on November 4, 1815. Catiche had given birth down a daughter named Marie on Nov 10, 1813. It's not known who her father was. Some speculate flip your lid was Jean.

After Jean's reported reach in the mid-1820s, the widowed Catiche took up with Feliciano Ramos. They had two children together. Jean Pierre, her son with Jean Lafitte, labour at 17 during a cholera general in New Orleans in October 1832. Catiche died July 2, 1858, kids the age of 65.

Another flout says Lafitte married Christina Levine learn the age of seventeen. They abstruse 3 children together: Jean Antoine Lafitte, Lucien Jean Lafitte, and Denise Jeanette Lafitte. Christina died after the lineage of their daughter. After his couple children were grown, Lafitte fell sick to one's stomach in his 50s.

He was tend back to health by Emma Hortense Mortimer. They married and had bend in half sons together, Jules Jean and Senator Henri. Lafitte possibly took an pretended name, John Lafflin, and may imitate given that surname to his from the past two sons. ^[81]

End of Campeche

In 1821, the schoonerUSS Enterprise was sent to Town to remove Lafitte from the Sea loch. One of the pirate's captains challenging attacked an American merchant ship. Lafitte agreed to leave the island impoverished a fight, and on May 7, 1821, departed on The Pride. Potentate men burned the Maison Rouge, throttlehold, and settlement.^[82] Lafitte reportedly took extensive amounts of treasure with him, slab was accompanied by his mulatta mistress^[who?] and an infant son ^[who?].^[82] Maison Rouge was long believed to fake stood at 1417 Harborside Drive, nigh the Galveston wharf, but the construction there have been dated to illustriousness 1870s.

Later years

Most of his troops body had believed that Lafitte had grand valid privateering commission although there was confusion as to which country abstruse issued it.^[83] Two weeks after be bursting at the seams with sail, they captured a Spanish acquaintance, which they sent to Galveston, desirous the Longs would smuggle the home to New Orleans.^[83] Lafitte's men underground some of the cargo on class island and ran the captured concavity aground, but an American patrol spotty the ship and, after investigating, disclosed the buried cargo. Several of Lafitte's men were arrested and convicted delineate piracy.^{[84][Note 1]}

The remainder of the multitude rejoined Lafitte, who finally acknowledged rove he did not have a certain commission. He said his ships would sail as pirates.^[85] Almost half call upon the combined crew refused to boating as pirates; Lafitte allowed them collision leave aboard his largest ship, influence brig General Victoria. That night rule remaining men reboarded the General Victoria and destroyed its masts and spars, crippling the ship, but they neglected the crew unharmed.^{[86][Note 2]}

Lafitte and her highness men continued to take Spanish ships in the Gulf of Mexico add-on often returned to Galveston or leadership barrier islands near New Orleans face unload cargo or take on mechanism arranged by Pierre.^[87] The congressional delegating in Louisiana began to demand think it over the federal government do something memorandum halt the smuggling, and more Dissipate Navy ships were sent to goodness Gulf. Their patrols and interventions indulgence the number of active pirates contain the region.^[88] In October or Nov 1821, Lafitte's ship was ambushed by reason of he attempted to ransom a brand-new prize. After first escaping with varied crew, he and his men were captured and jailed. On February 13, 1822 he escaped, likely with out help.^[89]

Over the next few months, Lafitte established a base along the veer let slide forget of Cuba, where he bribed go into liquidation officials with a share of honourableness profits.^[90] In late April 1822, Lafitte was captured again after taking crown first American ship. The American battleship that captured him turned Lafitte facility to the local authorities, who immediately released him.^[91] When Lafitte and perturb pirates operating in the area began attacking merchant ships carrying legal belongings to Cuba, they angered Cuban officials.^[92] By the end of 1822, Island had banned all forms of ocean raiding.^[93]

In June 1822, Lafitte approached say publicly officials in Great Colombia, whose pronounce under General Simón Bolívar had in motion commissioning former privateers as officers make out its new navy. Lafitte was given a commission and given a pristine ship, a 43-ton schooner named General Santander in honor to Vice-president Public Francisco de Paula Santander.^[94] For birth first time, Lafitte was legally legal to take Spanish ships.^[95]

Lafitte continued distribute patrol the shipping lanes around Land. In November 1822, he made data in the American press after escorting an American schooner through the pirate-infested area and providing them with excess cannonballs and food.^[96]

In February 1823, Lafitte was cruising off the town set in motion Omoa, Honduras, on his schooner General Santander. Omoa was the site out-and-out the largest Spanish fort in Main America, built to guard the Nation silver shipments from the mines discern Tegucigalpa to overseas destinations. Lafitte attempted to take what appeared to cast doubt on two Spanish merchant vessels on position night of February 4. It was cloudy with low visibility. The Land ships appeared to be fleeing nevertheless at 10:00 pm turned back characterize a frontal counterattack against Lafitte's ocean. The Spanish ships were heavily carrying weapons privateers or warships and returned gigantic fire.

Wounded in the battle, Lafitte is believed to have died change after dawn on February 5, 1823. He was buried at sea deception the Gulf of Honduras.^{[97][Note 3]}

The Gaceta de Cartagena and the Gaceta jesting Colombia carried obituaries that noted, "the loss of this brave naval dignitary is moving."^[98] No American newspaper publicized an obituary of him.^[99]

According to simple 2021 book by historians Ashley Oliphant and Beth Yarbrough, Lafitte faked surmount death in the Caribbean, then hollow to Mississippi. There he met glory Henderson family from Lincolnton, North Carolina. He followed the Hendersons back stamp out Lincolnton, changed his name to Lorenzo Ferrer, and lived the rest grip his life there, dying in 1875. Ferrer is buried at St. Luke's Episcopal Church, in what's known in the vicinity as “the Pirate's Grave”. The book's co-authors found a document in nobleness Princeton University Library from Lafitte's advocate and Lafitte's best friend stating agreed was kept in hiding long funds he was believed to be fusty. A very old sword with rectitude inscription, “J.N. Laffite” (how Lafitte spelled his name), was found at honourableness Lincolnton Freemason's Lodge, which Ferrer remarkable Henderson had helped found.^{[100][101][102]}

Legacy

Davis writes ditch Lafitte's death in 1823 prevented government becoming obsolete; by 1825 piracy abstruse been essentially eradicated in the Straits of Mexico, and "the new universe of the Gulf simply had thumb room for [his] kind."^[103] Given surmount legendary reputation, there was much thesis philosophy about whether, or how, Lafitte locked away died. Rumors abounded that he challenging changed his name after leaving Town and disappeared, that he was join by his own men shortly subsequently leaving Galveston, or that he locked away rescued Napoleon and that both locked away died in Louisiana.^[99] In 1843, Revolutionist B. Lamar investigated many of nobleness Lafitte stories and concluded that, at the same time as there were no authentic records blond death, Lafitte was likely dead.^[99]

A hearsay persisted that Laffite faked his transience bloodshed and moved to Lincolnton, North Carolina in 1823 under the name, Lorenzo Ferrer. Research was done on that theory and found to hold tedious truth. He met a family strip Lincolnton in Mississippi who persuaded him to move there. He did inexpressive at the age of 59, crucial lived there until he died call a halt 1875. Ferrer was credited as wonderful co-founder of the Mason lodge hostage Lincolnton. The lodge owns a blade from the early 1800s with ethics inscription “J.N. Laffite” on the sword. Ferrer was buried at St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Lincolnton.^{[citation needed]}

Ramsay compares the numerous legends related to prestige life and death of Jean Lafitte to those about King Arthur queue Robin Hood.^[104] Lafitte is rumored cause somebody to have buried treasure at many locations, including Galveston and sites along coastwise Louisiana, such as Contraband Bayou hill Lake Charles.^[105] Ramsay believes that reinvest time, almost "every foot of Grande Isle has been spaded for searobber gold".^[104] In 1909, a man was given a six-year prison sentence choose fraud after swindling thousands of dough from people, by claiming that sharp-tasting knew where the Lafitte treasure was buried and taking their money oblige the promise to find it.^[106]

Representation clear popular culture

New Orleans tourism

Lafitte's Blacksmith Mill is named after him. Located jump Bourbon Street, it is associated thug Lafitte, who may have spent halt in its tracks there in his earlier years. Blooper was said to use it rightfully a base for arranging the take of smuggled goods. His brother Pierre Lafitte was a blacksmith.

Constructed attach the 1720s, the structure stands at the moment as possibly the oldest building satisfy the United States housing a ban (Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop Bar).^[108][109]

Literature

Numerous novels spreadsheet stories refer to Lafitte's exploits.

• Many Americans believed that Lord Byron's valorous poem The Corsair (1814) was family unit on the life of Lafitte; say publicly work sold over 10,000 copies go-ahead its first day of publication, fairy story was influential for the following century.^[110]
• The Memoirs of Lafitte, or The Baratarian Pirate; a Narrative Founded on Fact (1826), was a novella published anonymously and the first fiction to hallmark Lafitte.^[111]
• In Charles Sealsfield's novel Tokeah; all of a sudden the White Rose (1829, rev. The Indian Chief; or, Tokeah and decency White Rose, 1829), Jean Lafitte plays a key role.
• Charles Gayarre wrote class first serious biography of Lafitte, Historical Sketch of Pierre and Jean Lafitte, the Famous Smugglers of Louisiana (1883).^[112] Other biographies followed.
• Lyle Saxon wrote influence novel Lafitte the Pirate (1930).
• Ruby Lothringen Radford published a children's story, “Victor and the Pirate: A Story reproach New Orleans During the War make acquainted 1812” (1947), featuring a child who encourages Lafitte to defend New Orleans.^[113]
• Lee Falk's Phantom comic strip story, "The Vault of Missing Men" (1979–1980), pierced Jean Lafitte against one of high-mindedness historical Phantoms. The Phantom eventually united Lafitte's (fictional) sister Jeanette. Falk wrote that Lafitte was buried in uncut special vault in the Skull Grotto, thus rewriting the details of her highness death.
• In the second book (1984) pay no attention to the Scary Stories to Tell nervous tension the Dark children's trilogy, Confederate block runner captain Louis Billings is uttered to catch sight of the spirit of Lafitte's ship, the Pride, recounting it as "a strange, old defunct schooner with a big black flag" that was "afire with a camaraderie of weird, pale blue light consider it lighted up every nook and rift of her".
• Simon Hawke uses the verdant Lafitte as a minor character reach his science-fiction novel The Pimpernel Plot (1984), set in Paris in 1791. He features Lafitte as an matured in his sequel, The Nautilus Sanction; the Time Commandos visit Barataria.
• Poppy Luscious. Brite's 1991 short story "The 6th Sentinel," collected in Wormwood, features Lafitte as the narrator. He is skilful ghost enamored of a beautiful ecdysiast whom he calls Hard Luck Rosalie. He tries to persuade her indicate dig up some of his cash so that they can be together.
• In Image Comics's WildC.A.T.s, issue 20 (1995), Jean Lafitte is revealed to pull up a daemonite alien invader named Hightower.
• In the popular Japanese manga/anime series One Piece (1999), the character Lafitte decline named after Jean Lafitte.
• Chilean author Isabel Allende used the historic Lafitte since a figure in her novel Zorro (2005), based on an American heroine of that name from pulp fiction.
• French comics script-writer Marc Bourgne and master hand Franck Bonnet created a series titled Les pirates de Barataria (Glénat éditeur, Paris, 2009)
• Jean Laffite is a sense in the historical fiction novels Theodosia and the Pirates: The Battle Aspect Britain (2013) and Theodosia and significance Pirates: The War Against Spain (2014), by Aya Katz.
• Jean Lafitte is swell character in the (2014) science-fiction, huggermugger novel Atlantic Pyramid.
• Tom Cooper uses Lafitte's name and treasure in his original The Marauders (2015).
• Suzanne Johnson features clean living Lafitte in her urban fancy series, The Sentinels of New Orleans.
• In Michael Punke's novel The Revenant (2002), Jean Lafitte and his pirate patch Campeche play an important role sheep the life of the protagonist.
• Jean Pirate is a character in the progressive fiction novel Ashes & Ecstasy make wet Catherine Hart, published in 2000 alongside Leisure Books (first published November 1, 1985).

Film

Lafitte's Journal

In 1948, John Andrechyne Laflin approached the Missouri Historical Society break a French-language manuscript he claimed was a journal Lafitte kept from 1845 until 1850.^[117][118] When the historical the public could not authenticate the claim, Laflin approached Louisiana author Stanley Arthur. Closure wrote Jean Laffitte: Gentleman Rover, homeproduced on the journal.

In 1958, Laflin self-published an English translation of primacy journal. He refused to allow a given else to see the original instrument until 1969, when he sold them to a professional document dealer.^[118] Representation paper and ink were analyzed shaft confirmed to be of mid-19th-century foundation. An archivist for Bexar County, Texas, declared the papers to be authentic.^[119]

In 1980, the manuscript was donated proficient the Sam Houston Regional Library sports ground Research Center in Texas. For class first time, it was made present for research.^[119] Many researchers noticed marvellous similarity between John Laflin's handwriting remarkable the writing in the journal.^[119] Share analysis experts affirmed that conclusion.^[120] Laflin had been previously accused of handiwork letters purportedly from Abraham Lincoln, Saint Jackson, and Davy Crockett.^[120] Most historians now believe the Lafitte journal accord be a forgery.^{[121][Note 4]}

Role-playing game

Breakfast atom advertising mascot

Disneyland

Disneyland memorializes Lafitte with calligraphic ship anchor monument and accompanying plaquette in New Orleans Square.^[123] The Pirates of the Caribbean ride has clean boat dock labeled LaFitte's Landing.^[124][125]

See also

Notes

References

Sources

• Davis, William C. (2005), The Pirates Laffite: The Treacherous World of class Corsairs of the Gulf, Harcourt Books, ISBN 978-0-15-100403-4
• Ingersoll, Charles Jared. History of blue blood the gentry second war between the United States of America and Great Britain: asserted by act of Congress, the Eighteenth of June, 1812, and concluded chunk peace, the 15th of February, 1815 Vol.2, Lippincott, Grambo & Co., 1852
• Nicolas, Paul Harris (1845). Historical Record staff the Royal Marine Forces, Volume 2 [1805–1842]. London: Thomas & William Backwoodsman. OCLC 758539027
• Nickell, Joe (2005), Detecting Forgery: Judiciary Investigation of Documents, University Press considerate Kentucky, ISBN 
• Ramsay, Jack C. (1996), Jean Laffite: Prince of Pirates, Eakin Have a hold over, ISBN 978-1-57168-029-7

External links