Born in mystery Jean Lafitte remains an enigma. Standing before this plaque, we delve into the captivating stories surrounding this famous figure. Much about Jean Lafitte’s life is unknown or misinterpreted.
This Jean Lafitte Plaque commemorates a man who was arguably the most famous pirate of the early 19th century. Or was he a privateer? The line blurs. Born in the late 1700s Jean Lafitte and his brother Pierre created a profitable smuggling operation in the Gulf of Mexico.
The Jean Lafitte brothers moved to Galveston Island. There, they developed the colony of Campeche. Jean Lafitte’s story is full of color and intrigue. He rose to power in Louisiana and played a role in the Battle of New Orleans. His smuggling operations in Galveston are legendary. His whereabouts after that remain a mystery.
Jean Lafitte always insisted he was merely a smuggler. He blamed American laws for forcing him into illegal activities. In 1807, the United States outlawed trade with Great Britain and France. New Orleans merchants began to run out of goods to sell. It also became illegal to import slaves. Merchants and planters were eager to buy the goods and slaves Jean Lafitte smuggled into south Louisiana.
The men working for Jean Lafitte were called Baratarians. The waterways they used for smuggling were located in Barataria. This area’s swamps and bayous stretched south of New Orleans to the Gulf of Mexico. Barataria was famous for smuggling even before privateers arrived in 1810. They used the deep water harbor of Barataria Bay.
Jean Lafitte’s image transformed during the War of 1812. Britain and the United States declared war in June 1812. In September 1814, British military officials sought Jean Lafitte’s help. They wanted to attack the U.S. from the Gulf of Mexico. Jean Lafitte warned American authorities. He offered to help defend New Orleans. He asked for a pardon for his men in exchange. His warnings were not believed at first. The U.S. Army and Navy attacked Jean Lafitte’s base at Grand Terre.
President James Madison offered pardons to the Baratarians in February 1815. This was thanks for their help with the American victory. Many Baratarians settled in New Orleans or the Barataria area. Some of their descendants still live there today. Jean Lafitte returned to smuggling at Galveston Island in Spanish Texas. The U.S. Navy forced him out in 1820. His exact whereabouts after that are unknown.
Jean Lafitte became a legendary figure. But did the Lafittes own a blacksmith shop in New Orleans’ French Quarter? An 1802 newspaper ad mentioned a blacksmith named Lafitte. No first name was given. The shop was not at the corner of Bourbon and St. Phillip streets. Pierre Lafitte’s mistress owned a building on St. Phillip Street across from today’s Blacksmith Shop.
Did Jean Lafitte always respect the American flag? In the films “The Buccaneer”, Jean Lafitte claims he never attacked an American ship. His men did attack several American ships. However, they apparently did not kill any crewmen. Jean Lafitte’s men resisted arrest by American federal agents and soldiers. They wounded murdered and captured several.
Why is a National Park named for Jean Lafitte? In 1966, Louisiana authorized a state park. It was named after Jean Lafitte because of his smuggling operations in the area.
Standing here at the Jean Lafitte Plaque we remember a man shrouded in mystery. Was he a pirate, a patriot, or something in between? His story continues to fascinate and inspire debate.