One of Lafitte's men testified that the Baratarians had never intended to fight the US but had prepared their vessels to flee. Pierre Lafitte (1770-1821) was a pirate in the Gulf of Mexico and smuggler in the early 19th century. [116] Many researchers noticed a similarity between John Laflin's handwriting and the writing in the journal. In exchange, the king asked for Lafitte and his forces to promise to assist in the naval fight against the United States and to return any recent property that had been captured from Spanish ships. [74] Lafitte's men buried some of the cargo on the island and ran the captured vessel aground, but an American patrol spotted the ship and after investigating, discovered the buried cargo. (The United States and the United Kingdom had prohibited the Atlantic slave trade after 1808, but Spain continued to import slaves to the Caribbean.) By 1810, their new port was very successful; the Lafittes pursued a successful smuggling operation and also started to engage in piracy. Pierre is less infamous than Jean, but led an equally unlawful life.) [72] Ships operating from Galveston flew the flag of Mexico, but they did not participate in the revolution. Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve was named for him.[97]. The Spanish ships were heavily armed privateers or warships and returned heavy fire. Jean Saint-Pierre tudie au petit sminaire de Larressore et au sminaire de Bayonne ; il est ordonn prtre le 23 septembre 1908 [2], puis entre l'Institut catholique de Toulouse.En 1910, il obtient son doctorat en thologie l'universit pontificale grgorienne de Rome.Entre 1910 et 1912, Jean Saint-Pierre est vicaire de la paroisse de Saint-Andr Bayonne, et de . [90] Legacy[edit], Davis writes that Lafitte's death prevented his becoming obsolete; by 1825 piracy had been essentially eradicated in the Gulf of Mexico, and "the new world of the Gulf simply had no room for [his] kind". (Davis (2005), p. 436). Jean Lafitte, born around 1780, was a French pirate in the United States who was an infamous smuggler. [He] is supposed to have captured one hundred vessels of all nations, and certainly murdered the crews of all that he took, for no one has ever escaped him. [73] Aury returned to Galveston several months later, but he left in July when he realized that the men were unwilling to revolt. [13] When Claiborne returned to office, he was relatively quiet on the subject. During Mexico's fight for independence, revolutionaries encouraged Lafitte to attack Spanish ships and keep the booty. [24] To supplement their navy, the United States offered letters of marque to private armed vessels. They sail into the city's lake, capture the mayor, and make him "walk the plank. Resentful of the raid on Barataria, Lafitte's men refused to serve on their former ships. [23], The brothers soon acquired a third ship, La Diligente. [62], Patterson praised the Barataria men who served on one of the US Navy ships, and whose skill with artillery was greater than their British counterparts. It destroyed four ships and most buildings. Another account says Lafitte married Christina Levine at the age of seventeen. [48] Jackson responded, "I ask you, Louisianans, can we place any confidence in the honor of men who have courted an alliance with pirates and robbers? The smugglers often held letters of marque from multiple countries, authorizing them to capture booty from differing nations. [12] Seamen flocked to the island, working on the docks or at the warehouses until they were chosen as crew for one of the privateers. The law left several loopholes, giving permission to any ship to capture a slave ship, regardless of the country of origin. In 1812, the United States and the United Kingdom went to war. On November 10, 1812, the United States District Attorney John R. Grymes charged Lafitte with "violation of the revenue law". Fan Wen, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons, Creole Families of New Orleans and Louisiana, https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=Zj-3PA6RIWMC. Smugglers would purchase the slaves for a discounted price, march them to Louisiana, and turn them in to customs officials. The Historic New Orleans Collection, 1983.123.8. [86], Lafitte continued to patrol the shipping lanes around Cuba. [115] The paper and ink were analyzed and confirmed to be of mid-19th-century origin. Lafitte's criminal industry was a success throughout. [34] Biographer Jack Ramsay speculates that the voyage was intended to "establish [Lafitte] as a privateering captain". The journal was republished in the 1990s as "The Memoirs of Jean Laffite." A major theme in the memoir/journal is Lafitte's change of heart from slave trader to anti-slavery activist. [58][59] Galveston[edit]. Lafitte was granted a commission and given a new ship, a 43-ton schooner named General Santander in honor to Vice-President General Francisco de Paula Santander. Despite Laffite warning the other Baratarians of a possible military attack on their base, a US naval force successfully invaded in September 1814 and captured most of his fleet. The United States government passed the Embargo Act of 1807 as tensions built with the United Kingdom by prohibiting trade. They feared that Lafitte and his men might side with the British. Lafitte's men identified slave ships and captured them. The government granted them all a full pardon on February 6.[65][66]. Sylvie Lafitte Paris 75008 (Paris) Sylvie Lafitte auparavant dans l'tablissement Paris de Paris 75008. galement de Neuilly-sur-Seine dans Hauts de Seine Scolaris(e) dans les tablissements suivants : de 1975 1979 Condorcet avec Sylvie Naegellen et d'autres lves et de 1980 1981 de la Folie Saint-James avec Georges Desmouceaux et d'autres lves. [18], The brothers soon acquired a third ship, La Diligent. They took 80 people captive, but Lafitte escaped safely. . This has become the common spelling in the United States, including places named after him. It destroyed four ships and most buildings. "[45], Following the custom of the times, Patterson filed a legal claim for the profits from the confiscated ships and merchandise. Jean was sent to Galveston Island, a part of Spanish Texas that served as the home base of Louis-Michel Aury, a French privateer who claimed to be a Mexican revolutionary. Trait Du Vide Parfait By Lie Tseu Jean Jacques Lafitte Trait Du Vide Parfait By Lie Tseu Jean Jacques Lafitte Le fondeur et le sculpteur Rpertoire Publications de. [citation needed] Since 1957, the city of Lake Charles, Louisiana, devotes an annual festival, Contraband Days, to Lafitte. He and his brother Pierre alternately claimed to have been born in Bayonne, while other documents of the time place his birthplace as St. Malo or Brest. [21] In January 1813, they took their first prize, a Spanish hermaphrodite brig loaded with 77slaves. He and his older brother Pierre spelled their last name Laffite, but English language documents of the time used "Lafitte". New Orleans issued six such letters, primarily to smugglers who worked with Lafitte at Barataria. Buy me a book! In a personal note, Lafitte reminded Blanque that his brother Pierre was still in jail and deserved an early release. [25] Dorada captured a fourth ship, a schooner they renamed Petit Milan. [51] On December 19, the state legislature passed a resolution recommending a full pardon for all of the former residents at Barataria. [47] According to Ramsay, Claiborne next wrote to General Andrew Jackson, "implying Patterson had destroyed a potential first line of defense for Louisiana" by his capture of Lafitte and his ships. Aside from a state historical marker out front, there's little sign this overgrown lot was once the encampment of Texas' most infamous pirate, Jean Lafitte. [36] The proclamation was printed in the nationally read Niles' Weekly Register. [42], Following the charges of November 10, 1812, and subsequent arrest and jailing of his brother Pierre, Jean Lafitte operated the piracy and smuggling business. Within weeks, Dorada captured a schooner loaded with goods valued at more than $9,000. The bay was located beyond a narrow passage between the barrier islands of Grand Terre and Grande Isle. [29], On June 18, 1812, the United States declared war on Britain. [44], Captain Nicholas Lockyer, the commander of the Sophie, had been ordered to contact the "Commandant at Barataria". [22] The Lafittes gained a reputation for treating captive crew members well and often returned captured ships to their original crew. [41] He was arrested, tried, convicted, and jailed on charges of "having knowingly and wittingly aided and assisted, procured, commanded, counselled, and advised" persons to commit acts of piracy". They sailed three ships, which Davis described as likely "one of the largest privately owned corsair fleets operating on the coast, and the most versatile. [63] On land and sea, the former pirate gunners earned praise as the battle continued. Jean Pierre, her son with Jean Lafitte, died at 17 during a cholera epidemic in New Orleans in October 1832. A hurricane in September resulted in flooding of most of the island, and several people died. [8], Biographer William C. Davis suggests a different childhood for Lafitte. Lafitte wanted to avoid a Spanish invasion. Slaves captured in such actions who were turned over to the customs office would be sold within the United States, with half the profits going to the people who turned them in. [67], In less than a year, Lafitte's colony grew to 100200 men and several women. By 1805, Laffite was operating a warehouse in New Orleans to help distribute the goods smuggled by his brother Pierre Lafitte. [30] The US built warships to operate on the Great Lakes but in other areas supplemented its navy by offering letters of marque to privately-owned armed vessels. They were most likely businessmen in New Orleans or independent privateers before becoming associated with the smuggling and piracy. [75][Note 1], The remainder of the crew rejoined Lafitte, who finally acknowledged that he did not have a valid commission. Christina died after the birth of their daughter. Believing that the US would eventually prevail in the war against Great Britain, Lafitte thought he could more easily defeat the US revenue officers than he could the British navy. Lafitte and several of his men rowed to meet them halfway. Workers would reload goods into smaller batches onto pirogues or barges, for transport through the many bayous to New Orleans. He was accompanied by a Royal Marine infantry Captain, John McWilliam,[38][39] who had been given a package to deliver to Lafitte. On February 13, he escaped, likely with outside help. In 1818, the Campeche colony suffered hardships. [5], Lafitte's native language was clearly French, though the specific dialect is a matter of some debate. [13] He was educated with his brother at a military academy on Saint Kitts. [49] He sent a message to the Americans that few of his men favored helping the British but said he needed 15 days to review their offer. For the town named after him, see. [He] is supposed to have captured one hundred vessels of all nations, and certainly murdered the crews of all that he took, for no one has ever escaped him. [78] The congressional delegation in Louisiana began to demand that the federal government do something to halt the smuggling, and more U.S. Navy ships were sent to the Gulf. On April 18, he sailed for New Orleans to report his activities. Referred to as The Corsair, Lafitte went on to establish a pirate kingdom in the swamps of New Orleans, and led more than 1,000 men during the War of 1812. [2] Other contemporary accounts claim that Lafitte was born in Orduna, Spain or in Westchester, New York. [36], Lafitte's continued flouting of the laws angered Governor Claiborne, who, on March 15, issued a proclamation against the Baratarian "banditti who act in contravention of the laws of the United States to the evident prejudice of the revenue of the federal government". [37], Captain Nicholas Lockyer, the commander of the Sophie, had been ordered to contact the "Commandant at Barataria". In 1817, Jean founded a new colony on Galveston Island named Campeche. The corsairs aimed the artillery at the Karankawa, killing most of the men in the tribe. The Spanish ships appeared to be fleeing but at 10:00 pm turned back for a frontal counterattack against Lafitte's ship. In February 1823, Lafitte was cruising off the town of Omoa, Honduras on his 43-ton armed Colombian schooner named General Santander. Numerous novels and stories refer to Lafitte's exploits. [44], On September 23, Patterson and his fleet, including the eight captured ships, began the return trip to New Orleans. [83] Lafitte's men buried some of the cargo on the island and ran the captured vessel aground, but an American patrol spotted the ship and, after investigating, discovered the buried cargo. [48] Lafitte had copies of the letters sent to Jean Blanque, a member of the state legislature who had invested in the Barataria operation. Their patrols and interventions reduced the number of active pirates in the region. By 1810, their new port had become very successful; the Laffites had a profitable smuggling operation and also started to engage in piracy. [60] Lafitte realized that the American line of defense was so short as to potentially allow the British to encircle the American troops. [29] Lafitte soon acquired a letter of marque from Cartagena, but never sent any booty there. Pierre was the historically less-well-known older brother of Jean Lafitte. It's difficult to separate fact from legend when it comes to the mysterious Jean Lafitte. He was four years younger than his more capable brother, Pierre. When Patterson's men went ashore, they met no resistance. He has found families with the surname Lafitte in Louisiana documents dating as early as 1765. Courtesy, Louisiana State Museum. The Americans took custody of six schooners, one felucca, and a brig, as well as 20 cannon and goods worth $500,000. [90] By this time, Lafitte's only known son, Jean Pierre Lafitte, had died in October 1832 during a yellow fever epidemic in New Orleans. Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop is named after him. Des milliers de livres avec la livraison chez vous en 1 jour ou en magasin avec -5% de rduction . Lafitte attempted to take what appeared to be two Spanish merchant vessels on the night of February 4. [97][Note 3] The Gaceta de Cartagena and the Gaceta de Colombia carried obituaries that noted, "the loss of this brave naval officer is moving. Jackson agreed to do so. Superbe tableau par Jean Lafitte, au sujet d'un Clown. They had a hideout on Barataria Island in Jefferson Parish where they lay low when indignant American and foreign shippers got too close for comfort. Although the city kept control of the eight ships taken from Lafitte, it did not have enough sailors to man them for defense. Lafitte attempted to take what appeared to be two Spanish merchant vessels on the night of February 4. [61] Two weeks into his stay, the two leaders of the revolutionaries left the island. [64] He formally requested clemency for the Lafittes and the men who had served under them. Last week the exploits of a new Jean Lafitte enlivened the New Orleans scene. Suzanne Johnson features a living Lafitte in her urban fantasy series, Jean Laffite is a character in the historical fiction novel Ashes & Ecstasy by Catherine Hart, Published March 1st 2000 by Leisure Books (first published November 1st 1985), In the 1960s and 70s a barefoot cartoon pirate named, Lafitte: the pirate of the Gulf a book from 1836, This page was last edited on 16 February 2023, at 04:55. 29 ], Lafitte was cruising off the town of Omoa, Honduras on his 43-ton armed Colombian schooner General... Members well and often returned captured ships to their original crew in September in! The raid on Barataria, Lafitte 's men went ashore, they took first! Lafitte attempted to take what appeared to be fleeing but at 10:00 turned... Pirogues or barges, for transport through the Many bayous to New.! The Gulf of Mexico, but never sent any booty there Many researchers noticed a between! On his 43-ton armed Colombian schooner named General Santander colony on Galveston island named Campeche most likely businessmen in Orleans. Enlivened the New Orleans scene armed Colombian schooner named General Santander authorizing them capture!, their New port was very successful ; the Lafittes pursued a successful operation... 1823, Lafitte 's men went ashore, they took 80 people captive, but did. Lafittes and the United States, including places named after him. [ 97 ] of Mexico and in. Privateering captain '' and sea, the United States who was an infamous smuggler went to.. Businessmen in New Orleans or independent privateers before becoming associated with the surname Lafitte Louisiana. To supplement their navy, the United States District Attorney John R. Grymes charged Lafitte with violation... The town of Omoa, Honduras on his 43-ton armed Colombian schooner General... Exploits of a New colony on Galveston island named Campeche taken from Lafitte, sujet! P. 436 ) the bay was located beyond a narrow passage between the barrier islands of Grand Terre and Isle... Stay, the two leaders of the island, and turn them in to customs.... Was four years younger than his more capable brother, Pierre, but English language documents the. The Gulf of Mexico, but Lafitte escaped safely reload goods into smaller batches onto or! -5 % de rduction ship to capture a slave ship, regardless the... Mid-19Th-Century origin in February 1823, Lafitte 's men testified that the Baratarians had intended... Matter of some debate between the barrier islands of Grand Terre and Grande Isle battle continued en avec! Suggests a different childhood for Lafitte outside help jour ou en magasin avec -5 % de rduction them a. Galveston flew the flag of Mexico, but English language documents of island. City kept control of the men who had served under them comes to the mysterious Jean Lafitte the of. General Santander smuggling and piracy places named after him. [ 97 ] privateers! A New Jean Lafitte, au sujet d & # x27 ; s difficult to separate fact from when. It & # x27 ; s difficult to separate fact from legend when it to. Honduras on his 43-ton armed Colombian schooner named General Santander Jack Ramsay speculates that the Baratarians never., a Spanish hermaphrodite brig loaded with goods valued at more than $ 9,000 & # x27 ; s industry! Although the city kept control of the raid on Barataria, Lafitte was cruising off the of! [ 116 ] Many researchers noticed a similarity between John Laflin 's handwriting and the men had... Resentful of the time used `` Lafitte '' to attack Spanish ships appeared be. Criminal industry was a pirate in the journal numerous novels and stories refer to Lafitte 's men testified that Baratarians. 67 ], Biographer William C. Davis suggests a different childhood for Lafitte 's lake, capture the,. When Claiborne returned to office, he sailed for New Orleans or privateers! Ramsay speculates that the voyage was intended to fight the US but had prepared their vessels to flee Levine... All a full pardon on February 6. [ 65 ] [ ]! Requested clemency for jean pierre lafitte son of jean lafitte Lafittes gained a reputation for treating captive crew members well and returned!, died at 17 jean pierre lafitte son of jean lafitte a cholera epidemic in New Orleans [ 58 ] [ 66 ] John Grymes. Armed privateers or warships and returned heavy fire eight ships taken from Lafitte, sujet. Frontal counterattack against Lafitte 's colony grew to 100200 men and several of his men might side the. Historically less-well-known older brother Pierre was still in jail and deserved an release. Tableau par Jean Lafitte older brother Pierre was the historically less-well-known older brother of Jean,! Former pirate gunners earned praise as the battle continued pirate gunners earned praise as the continued. To war quiet on the night of February 4 age of seventeen served under them into... Preserve was named for him. [ 97 ] early as 1765 Pierre was historically! Edit ] to Lafitte 's ship a year, Lafitte 's native language was clearly French, though specific! To man them for defense started to engage in piracy most likely businessmen in Orleans! Against Lafitte 's exploits left several loopholes, giving permission to any ship to capture a slave,!, regardless of the men who had served under them the shipping lanes around Cuba ; s criminal was. And Preserve was named for him. [ 97 ] 59 ] Galveston edit. Patrols and interventions reduced the number of active pirates in the United States government passed the Embargo of! Operating a warehouse in New Orleans scene ] to supplement their navy, the former pirate gunners earned praise the... And returned heavy fire privateers or warships and returned heavy fire his activities has... United Kingdom went to war to their original crew government granted them all a full on. Or in Westchester, New York Gulf of Mexico, but led an equally unlawful life )! [ 22 ] the paper and ink were analyzed and confirmed to be two Spanish merchant vessels on the of. Novels and stories refer to Lafitte 's native language was clearly French, though the specific dialect is a of! Men in the United States declared war on Britain pirate in the revolution revolutionaries left the island or Westchester... Their New port was very successful ; the Lafittes and the writing in the.... Be fleeing but at 10:00 pm turned back for a discounted price, march them to capture booty from nations! To any ship to capture a slave ship, La Diligente and his might. Loopholes, giving permission to any ship to capture booty from differing nations academy Saint... Returned to office, he was four years younger than his more capable brother Pierre! Loaded with 77slaves went to war ] Lafitte soon acquired a third ship, a schooner renamed... Men in the region letters of marque from Cartagena, but Lafitte safely... `` walk the plank but at 10:00 pm turned back for a frontal counterattack Lafitte... They renamed Petit Milan to report his activities, they took 80 people captive but... New Orleans acquired a third ship, a schooner loaded with 77slaves [ 36 ] the proclamation was printed the. In Westchester, New York Spain or in Westchester, New York ''... Took 80 people captive, but Lafitte escaped safely to help distribute the goods by. To meet them halfway account says Lafitte married Christina Levine at the Karankawa, most. By 1805, Laffite was operating a warehouse in New Orleans issued such! Us but had prepared their vessels to flee named after him. [ 97 ] born 1780..., he sailed for New Orleans to report his activities Many researchers noticed a similarity between John Laflin 's and! Passed the Embargo Act of 1807 as tensions built with the British ship to capture booty from differing.... April 18, he was four years younger than his more capable brother,.... At the age of seventeen more capable brother, Pierre La Diligente on 18. Revenue law '' Lafitte ( 1770-1821 ) was a French pirate in the Gulf of Mexico but. The battle continued Pierre, her son with Jean Lafitte note, Lafitte reminded Blanque his... Avec -5 % de rduction # x27 ; s difficult to separate fact from legend when it comes to mysterious... Captive, but led an equally unlawful life. prohibiting trade on Barataria, continued!, p. 436 ) pm turned back for a frontal counterattack against Lafitte 's colony grew to 100200 and. Often returned captured ships to their original crew % de rduction any booty there land and sea, brothers. Them halfway Dorada captured a fourth ship, a Spanish hermaphrodite brig with... 5 ], in less than a year, Lafitte 's men identified slave ships and keep the.. Mexico 's fight for independence, revolutionaries encouraged Lafitte to attack Spanish ships appeared to of... Ashore, they met no resistance outside help on his 43-ton armed schooner! Former pirate gunners earned praise as the battle continued 2005 ), 436... Well and often returned captured ships to their original crew island named Campeche identified ships... A slave ship, a Spanish hermaphrodite brig loaded with 77slaves 25 ] Dorada captured fourth... The Spanish ships appeared to be of mid-19th-century origin, likely with outside help the specific dialect is matter... Prohibiting trade the common spelling in the United States who was an infamous smuggler participate in the United Kingdom prohibiting... The men who had served under them infamous than Jean, but they did not participate in United., he escaped, likely with outside help 86 ], the United States declared war on Britain report activities. Spain or in Westchester, New York in October 1832 pirate in the United Kingdom went to war ]! Captive, but they did not participate in the nationally read Niles ' Weekly Register enough sailors to them..., a schooner loaded with goods valued at more than $ 9,000 last...
Josh Wood Colour Tesco, Coastal Carolina Fraternity Rankings, Phil Mickelson Daughter Amanda, Articles J