Laffite, Jean, << lah FEET, zhahn >> (1780?-1826?), also spelled Lafitte, was a New Orleans smuggler, pirate, and patriot. In 1810, he became chief of a band of outlaws with headquarters on Grande Terre Island in Barataria Bay in the Gulf of Mexico. With his brother Pierre, he commanded a fleet of ships and raided both Spanish and neutral vessels in the Gulf. His ships flew the flags of the Central and South American nations revolting against Spain.
In 1813, Governor William Claiborne of Louisiana offered $500 for Laffite’s capture. Laffite, then at the height of his power, boldly offered $1,500 for the governor’s head. All efforts to take and prosecute Laffite under the law failed.
In 1814, the British were at war with the United States. They offered Laffite $30,000, a pardon, and a naval captaincy if he would aid them in attacking New Orleans. He refused, informed the U.S. government of the plans, and offered the services of the Barataria smugglers to the United States. Laffite fought for General Andrew Jackson in the Battle of New Orleans on Jan. 8, 1815, and received a pardon from President James Madison.
American forces had destroyed the community at Barataria, so Laffite moved to Galveston Island. There, he established a town called Campeachy and returned to piracy. He made himself “governor” of the island. After he raided the Louisiana coast and scuttled an American ship, the United States sent an expedition in 1821 to destroy the Galveston pirate colony. Laffite quietly yielded, set fire to his town, and sailed away. Most historians believe that he died either in exile in Yucatán or in battle. Laffite was born in France. His family name was originally spelled Lafitte. But he spelled the name Laffite.
