Background
He was born in 1776 in Bordeaux, France.
He was born in 1776 in Bordeaux, France.
Jean and his elder brother Pierre served under Napoleon--Jean as an army captain and Pierre in the navy--and emigrated to New Orleans. Both were fluent linguists, speaking French, English, Spanish, and Italian.
He obtained a privateer's commission from Cartagena, which had revolted from Spain and become a republic.
He declared that all his offenses had been forced on him by "certain vices in the laws. "
A grand jury indicted some of the lesser Louisiana privateers for piracy and Pierre was arrested as an accessory.
Laffite spurned the offer and sent the papers to an acquaintance in the Louisiana legislature, saying he would never miss a chance to serve his adopted country. New Orleans authorities, however, treated the British papers as forgeries and on Sept. 16, 1814, an American naval force under Commodore Daniel T. Patterson raided the Baratarian privateers, destroyed Laffite's headquarters and rich stores, and carried off his men to the New Orleans jail. Laffite wrote Governor William C. C. Claiborne of Louisiana, "I am a lost sheep wishing to return to the sheepfold" and offered to assist in the defense of New Orleans.
He warned that New Orleans would be attacked.
No deal was recognized, but on the next day Pierre was missing from prison.
Heeding Laffite's warning, he was the main factor in preparing the city's defenses and summoning Jackson.
Finally Laffite called on Jackson and pleaded that his men be allowed to fight. Gen. Andrew Jackson accepted their help, and many of the Baratarians participated with credit in the battle of New Orleans and were subsequently pardoned by President Madison.
Laffite with his closest followers departed (1821) peaceably. The charge of piracy was never proved against him or his brother in court, but he acquired great wealth rapidly.
In his lifetime he was regarded as a romantic figure, and after his death legend heightened his fame
He was married Madeline Regaud and had a child Jean Pierre Lafitte.
