Jean Lafitte: The Gentlemen Pirate

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that the legendary pirate, Jean Laffite, who lived from 1780 to 1825 (approximately), was born in Bayonne, France. The family eventually migrated to the Island of Espanola from where the Laffite brothers sailed the Gulf and the Caribbean and were involved in many privateering missions. The author points out that a pardon was offered to Laffite in 1814 by the British if he would assist them in attacking New Orleans, but Lafitte refused and informed the U.S. of the plans, which resulted in Lafitte fighting for Andrew Jackson in the Battle of New Orleans in 1815 and receiving a pardon from President James Madison. The paper relates that Laffite sailed to Mugeres Island, which is off the Yucatan coast, where he continued his pirating activities until sometime around the year of 1825 when he became "mortally ill," returned to the mainland, and died.

Table of Contents
Jean Laffite
Laffite and Governor Claiborne
Laffite and General Jackson: The Battle of New Orleans
Laffite: The Hero
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"The U.S. Army and Navy attacked Laffite and captured some of his ships. Laffite still announcing his loyalty to the United States offered his assistance to the worn and weary troops of General Andrew Jackson defending New Orleans in exchange for a full pardon for himself and his men. General Jackson accepted the proposition and Laffite and his men, now called the Baratarians, fought with all their might in the Battle of New Orleans, which took place in December of 1814 and January of 1815. General Jackson said that Laffite was "one of the ablest men" in battle and a proclamation of pardon was issued by James Madison, President, for Laffite and his men."

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