LAFITTE. JEAN ( 1780-C.182A). A noted pi rate of the Mexican 1;u11. He was born in France, and held a commission as a privateer from the French Government, and subsequently from Car tagena. This service degenerated. however, into piracy, and Barataria Bay, in Louisiana. became the rendezvous of a horde of adventurers and unscrupulous sailors, among whom .lean Latitte and his brother Pierre were preeminent, beemn ing the terror of traders in the Gulf of Mexico. in the outbreak of the War of 1812 the British made overtures to Lafitte. who refused to join them. In the meantime an expedition was sent out by the Americans. under Commodore Patter son. designed to break up the stronghold at Bara taria Bay. resulting in the flight of the pirates. The anticipated attack on New ()deans by the British troops induced the Governor of Louisiana and General Jackson to accept Lafitte's offer of himself and his men for the defense of the city. The outlaws conducted themselves during the battle with such courage and fidelity that President Madison issued a proclamation early in 1815 recounting their services and according them free pardon for their past misdeeds. In
1816 one of the Lafittes established himself on the island of Galveston. but his unruly colony aroused the hostility of the authorities, who were taking steps for its suppression when the colo nists abandoned the place. burning all the houses (1820). Later Lafitte was heard of in Yucatan. where he is supposed to have died. The Lafittes were audacious smugglers as well as pirates. They brought cargoes of slaves into the coun try after 1809. and disposed of them by means of a finely organized system of traffic that in cluded many very respectable merchants cf New orleans and its vicinity. Consult two articles on "Jean and Pierre La in the Mogazine of American History (New York. 1885).