Adventurer; born in
France about 1780.
Early in 1800 he went to
New Orleans, La., where for a time he engaged in the blacksmith business.
Later he and his brother, Pierre, became the leaders of the Corsairs, a band of smugglers who operated along the coast.
The principal stronghold of these buccaneers was on the island of Grand Terre, which commanded the pass of
Barataria.
Several expeditions were sent to capture them, but through the warnings of friends they escaped.
In 1814, when the
British were planning to attack New Orleans, they were anxious to secure the services of these outlaws, and sent
Jean Lafitte a letter, in which he was offered a captaincy in the
British navy and $30,000, with a pledge of pardon for himself and men for past offences, reparation for losses, and further rewards in land and money.
If this invitation was not accepted, a threat was made that the inhabitants of
Barataria would be annihilated.
Lafitte told the bearer of this letter to return in ten days and he would give him an answer.
In the mean time he sent a communication containing this letter to the governor of
Louisiana, offering to join the
American forces with his followers if he and they were pardoned for their past offences.
Governor Claiborne called a council, which decided that the letters sent by
Lafitte were forgeries.
A little later an expedition was fitted out against
Barataria, which took the place completely by surprise.
Many of the pirates were captured, and most of their booty and vessels carried to New Orleans.
Jean and
Pierre Lafitte, however, escaped and collected their scattered followers at Last Island, close to the mouth of
Bayou Lafourche.
Later, when
Gen. Andrew Jackson took command at New Orleans, he issued a proclamation in which he said he did not call upon pirates or robbers to help him; and yet when
Jean Lafitte offered his services he accepted the muchneeded help.
After the war
Lafitte left
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310]
New Orleans.
Jean settled in
Galveston, but in 1820 was driven out by the
United States authorities, and went to
Yucatan, where he died in 1826.
