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Jul. 25th, 2008 09:23 amWe all know about the pirates of the Carribean, but since I am going to be living there pretty soon, I became mighty curious about pirates of the Gulf of Mexico. I am pleased to announce that the Gulf is full of supposed buried treasure, pirate legends, and one notable pirate, who is featured in films, ballads, and literature: Jean Lafitte, The Gentleman Pirate. Alright, alright, I'd never heard of him before either, but he's a notable character to those in pirate circles. No one knows exactly when and where he was born, but it was around 1780, either in France or one of the French colonies, San Domingue most likely. He's quite a folk hero in the area, actually. It is said that Lafitte never plundered an American vessel. During the War of 1812, the British tried to bribe him to their side, and put to use his extensive knowledge of the Gulf and the bayous. He told them he needed time to think over the offer, and went strait to the governernor of New Orleans with his information. He was ignored, and when the British finally made their attack on New Orleans, Lafitte once more offered his services, this time to Andrew Jackson, and fought in the battle.
Lafitte got his start in piracy by distributing the goods his older brother, Pierre, smuggled. However, after Lousiana became a U.S. territory, it became much more risky to actually operate in the city, so the brothers moved their smuggling enterprise to Barataria Bay, 100 miles south of New Orleans. Pierre stayed in New Orleans to keep an eye on things from that end, while Jean stayed in Barataria and took care of business. Even though they were outlaws, the people loved them, because they were bringing in goods that they would not normally have anymore, thanks to the war and the ensueing embargo. Of course the new American government was not as willing to turn a blind eye to Jean's activities as the French one had been. When the new governor offered a $500 bounty on Lafitte, Lafitte posted signs proclaiming a $1000 bounty on the governor.
After the War ended Jean was pardoned of his crimes by the U.S. government; but he returned to smuggling and piracy, and in 1817 his base in Barataria was attacked, and Jean was run out of New Orleans. He resettled on the island of Galveston, off the coast of Texas, and set up a new business there, but it wasn't long before the same thing happened, although in that case the authorities quietly asked him to leave after one of his captains raided an American merchant. He did, after burning his compound, and reportedly took his riches with him. No one knows much about what happened to him after that, exactly how or when he died, but the most popular theory is he died of fever in Yucatan, Mexico in 1846.
Films and literature that feature Lafitte are Cecil B. Demille's The Buccaneer, made in 1938, the novel Zorro by Isabele Allende. There is a city named after him in Lousiana, a national park, and even a festival devoted to him, Contraband Days, which is celebrated by a bunch of actors who dress up like pirates and force the mayor to walk the plank.
Lafitte got his start in piracy by distributing the goods his older brother, Pierre, smuggled. However, after Lousiana became a U.S. territory, it became much more risky to actually operate in the city, so the brothers moved their smuggling enterprise to Barataria Bay, 100 miles south of New Orleans. Pierre stayed in New Orleans to keep an eye on things from that end, while Jean stayed in Barataria and took care of business. Even though they were outlaws, the people loved them, because they were bringing in goods that they would not normally have anymore, thanks to the war and the ensueing embargo. Of course the new American government was not as willing to turn a blind eye to Jean's activities as the French one had been. When the new governor offered a $500 bounty on Lafitte, Lafitte posted signs proclaiming a $1000 bounty on the governor.
After the War ended Jean was pardoned of his crimes by the U.S. government; but he returned to smuggling and piracy, and in 1817 his base in Barataria was attacked, and Jean was run out of New Orleans. He resettled on the island of Galveston, off the coast of Texas, and set up a new business there, but it wasn't long before the same thing happened, although in that case the authorities quietly asked him to leave after one of his captains raided an American merchant. He did, after burning his compound, and reportedly took his riches with him. No one knows much about what happened to him after that, exactly how or when he died, but the most popular theory is he died of fever in Yucatan, Mexico in 1846.
Films and literature that feature Lafitte are Cecil B. Demille's The Buccaneer, made in 1938, the novel Zorro by Isabele Allende. There is a city named after him in Lousiana, a national park, and even a festival devoted to him, Contraband Days, which is celebrated by a bunch of actors who dress up like pirates and force the mayor to walk the plank.
