Jean Lafitte – A “Hero” Pirate
The story of Jean Lafitte is a captivating blend of historical fact and romanticized legend, a narrative woven from the threads of piracy, patriotism, and entrepreneurial ambition. This figure, who operated in the tumultuous waters of the Gulf Coast during the early 19th century, remains an enigma, his actions simultaneously condemned and celebrated. Was he a ruthless pirate, a shrewd businessman, or a reluctant hero? The answer, as with most historical figures, is likely a complex combination of all three.
Our journey begins in New Orleans, a city steeped in a rich and often illicit history. Sometime between the Louisiana Purchase in 1803 and 1810, two brothers, Jean and Pierre Lafitte, arrived in this bustling port and established a blacksmith shop. Situated on St. Pierre Street, nestled between Bourbon and Dauphine Streets, the shop seemed an unassuming enterprise. Slaves performed the laborious task of hammering, while the brothers focused on securing clientele and managing the finances.
New Orleans at this time was a vibrant, chaotic melting pot, its character shaped by its unique history. Founded on a site chosen for its strategic advantage in trading with Spanish America, even against Spanish law, smuggling was deeply ingrained in the city’s culture. The practice was initially encouraged until France ceded Louisiana to Spain in 1702. Afterward, illicit trade shifted to the French and British colonies, and later, to the burgeoning settlements of the Ohio Valley. Smuggling was not only tolerated but often practiced by many, including town officials.
The transfer of New Orleans to American control did little to stem the tide of smuggling. It was after 1808, however, that the trade truly exploded, fueled by the United States’ ban on the importation of slaves. The economics were stark: a prime slave purchased for a mere $20 on the African coast could fetch a staggering $1,000 in the New Orleans market, creating an irresistible incentive for smugglers. New Orleans, a frontier town and a major seaport, bordered by vast stretches of fertile land, saw a rapid influx of settlers eager to cultivate cotton, sugar cane, and tobacco, creating a seemingly insatiable demand for slave labor.
The waterways surrounding New Orleans became highways for illicit trade, navigated by boats constantly in need of blacksmith services. The Lafitte brothers’ shop naturally attracted smugglers, drawn by the brothers’ own experience as sailors and privateers. Jean and Pierre understood the intricacies of ship repair and maintenance.
It wasn’t long before the Lafittes became intimately acquainted with the details of the slave trade. Slaves were typically landed on Grande Terre Island in Barataria Bay, then transported through the bayous to markets along the Mississippi River. The brothers, particularly Jean, recognized the inefficiencies and potential for greater profit within this fragmented system. He envisioned a unified "community of interests," a trust that would streamline operations and maximize profits. Thus, Jean Lafitte began to consolidate the disparate smuggling operations into a more organized and lucrative enterprise.
Around 1810, the brothers made a pivotal decision: they abandoned the blacksmith shop. Jean Lafitte moved to Barataria, assuming leadership of the smugglers, while Pierre remained in New Orleans, managing the sales and distribution network. Under Jean Lafitte‘s direction, the smugglers moved beyond merely purchasing slaves from traders. They began intercepting slave ships off the coast of Cuba, a practice reminiscent of the old buccaneers and fueled by a lingering animosity toward the Spanish.
Jean Lafitte‘s success did not go unnoticed. In September 1810, the Governor of Louisiana issued a proclamation denouncing the "open and daring course" of the "brigands" infesting the coast. The proclamation itself served as an advertisement for Jean Lafitte‘s "extensive and well-laid plan" to supply slaves to planters at affordable prices. This only fueled the influx of buyers to Barataria, as fleets of schooners and feluccas were dispatched to capture Spanish slavers.
The transition from raiding slavers to attacking legitimate merchant vessels was a swift one. As a Treasury Department document of the time noted, vessels leaving New Orleans with passengers were being captured, and their occupants murdered. The pirates indiscriminately targeted ships of all nations.
In the midst of his growing prosperity, Jean Lafitte established a fortified settlement on Grande Terre Island. Within its walls were his own residence and numerous dwellings that attracted seamen from his piratical fleet. Within a year or two, his fleet consisted of at least ten vessels. Estimates suggest that between 800 and 1,000 men were under his command, drawn from the lawless elements of the West Indies.
Descriptions of Jean Lafitte paint him as a striking figure: tall and well-built, with hazel eyes, black hair, and a mustache. He favored a green uniform and an otter-skin cap worn jauntily over one eye. He was considered gentlemanly in demeanor, sober in habit, and thoughtful. Fluent in Spanish and English, in addition to his native language, he was a capable swordsman and an accurate shot. While not known for romantic entanglements, he maintained a relationship with a "criolla mistress" from New Orleans. His household was characterized by order and regularity, furnished with fine plate and linen.
Until 1814, Jean Lafitte governed his pirate kingdom with minimal interference. Occasional raids by United States marshals were consistently repelled. Following one such confrontation, Lafitte declared to the surviving officers that while he opposed violence, he would rather die than lose his goods. Despite these clashes, he moved freely between New Orleans and Barataria. While government officials were often aware of his presence in the city, appeals to suppress his operations went unheeded.
The War of 1812 presented Jean Lafitte with a complex dilemma. As the British prepared to attack New Orleans in 1814, they sought his assistance, offering a captain’s commission, land, and a pardon for past crimes. However, Jean Lafitte harbored a deep-seated animosity toward the British and a loyalty to New Orleans. Simultaneously, an American expedition under Commodore Patterson was preparing to destroy Barataria. Despite knowing of the impending attack, Jean Lafitte rejected the British offer.
On September 16, 1814, Patterson’s forces attacked and destroyed Barataria, capturing ten pirate cruisers and one prize, along with property valued at approximately $150,000. The Baratarians fled into the swamps. From his hiding place, Jean Lafitte sought permission to fight under Andrew Jackson. He paid Edward Livingston and the United States district attorney, John K. Grimes, substantial sums to advocate for his cause. Ultimately, they succeeded in gaining Jackson’s favor. Jean Lafitte participated in the Battle of New Orleans, although his specific contributions remain unclear. On February 6, 1815, President James Madison granted a full pardon to Jean Lafitte and his men.
Jean Lafitte‘s career was far from over. After his pardon, he briefly resumed operations at Barataria before re-establishing himself in 1817. In the autumn of 1816, a pirate leader named Louis D’Aury had established a base on Galveston Island, Texas, similar to Jean Lafitte‘s Barataria operation. Galveston became a haven for privateers operating under various Spanish American flags.
When D’Aury abandoned his Galveston settlement, Jean Lafitte arrived and transformed it into an even larger pirate colony than Barataria. He offered a market for the disposal of captured goods, particularly slaves, without the scrutiny of American authorities. He also sold slaves at exceptionally low prices.
Accounts of Jean Lafitte‘s leadership reveal a man who maintained control through a combination of fear and respect. He was willing to use violence when necessary but also displayed a capacity for shrewd negotiation and strategic thinking. He even put down a mutiny on one of his ships.
Despite his success, Jean Lafitte‘s Galveston operation faced increasing pressure from American authorities. By 1819, his cruisers were being captured, and their crews were being tried and hanged. In the spring of 1821, the USS Enterprise forced him to abandon Galveston. Gathering his plunder aboard his brig, Pride, Jean Lafitte sailed away, never to be seen again.
The fate of Jean Lafitte remains shrouded in mystery. Some claim he perished in Yucatan, others that he died in France, and still others that he was killed in a naval battle off the coast of Cuba. Regardless of his ultimate fate, Jean Lafitte‘s career remains one of the most remarkable in the annals of piracy. He commanded a large and diverse group of men for over a decade, influencing events in Louisiana and beyond. Despite his criminal activities, he possessed qualities that led some to consider him a hero.