Jean Laffite, (born 1780? / France—died 1825?), was a pirate who interrupted his illicit adventures to fight heroically for the United States in defense of New Orleans in the War of 1812.

Little is known of Laffite’s early life, but by 1809 he and his brother Pierre had established in New Orleans a blacksmith shop that reportedly served as a depot for smuggled goods brought ashore by a band of privateers. From 1810 to 1814 this group probably formed the nucleus for Laffite’s illicit colony on the secluded islands of Barataria Bay south of the city. Laffite’s group preyed on Spanish commerce, illegally disposing of its plunder through merchant connections on the mainland.

Because Barataria was an important approach to New Orleans, the British during the War of 1812 offered Laffite $30,000 and a captaincy in the Royal Navy for his allegiance. Laffite warned Louisiana officials of New Orleans’s peril. Laffite next offered aid to the forces of Gen. Andrew Jackson in defense of New Orleans if he and his men could be granted a full pardon. Jackson accepted. Afterward, Jackson personally commended Laffite as “one of the ablest men” of the battle, and Pres. James Madison issued a proclamation of pardon for the group.

In 1817, with nearly 1,000 followers, he organized a commune called Campeche on the site of the future city of Galveston, Texas.

In 1820, Lafitte suddenly picked a crew to man his favorite vessel, 'The Pride', burned the town, and sailed away into history.

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