Biography of 	Lafitte, Jean and Pierre Orleans Parish, Louisiana
Submitted by 	Frances (Ball) Turner December 1997

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From The History of Louisiana by Chambers pub. 1925
Vol. I, pg. 518

Jean Lafitte and his brother, Pierre Lafitte, were natives of St. Malo, in
France, who, coming to New Orleans, had opened a blacksmith shop.  But the
legitimate working in iron was a slow process of wealth accumulation.
bootlegging of contraband merchandise from Barataria was seen as more
profitable.  The Lafitte brothers became the agents of the Baratarians.
Theirs the part to send word to merchants exactly what goods were
available.  In their conduct of this part of the business their power and
authority over those whom they served so increased that they made
themselves leaders of the piratical-smuggling aggretation, which by this
time had been largely augmented as to numbers.  Thenceforth the Baratarians
were known as Lafitte's men.  Jean Lafitte ruled the otherwise unruly with
an iron hand.  He was possessed of all the dominant traits of stern and
unyielding leadership.  His brother, Pierre, was possessed of these
qualities to a lesser degree.  It was Jean Lafitte who from the time he
took command was the head and front of these offenders.

pg. 530

The British had learned of the dissatisfaction of the Creoles with American
rule, and thought they had only to appear upon the scene to have the
Creoles flock to the British standard.  How little did they estimate the
true temper and feeling of the people they had calculated upon winning over
so easily.  These people were idolizers of Napoleon notwithstanding the
setting of his star.  No foe of France could be friend of theirs.  Even
Jean Lafitte and his Baratarians refused to listen to the blandishments of
the English.  Lafitte was offered the commission of Post Captain in the
English navy and an assured future if he would but join the British and
supply them with information concerning the various intricate water
approaches to New Orleans.  Notwithstanding the Louisiana government had
put a price upon his head, Lafitte communicated the British offer to
Governor Claiborne and tendered the services of himself and men to aid in
the defense of the city, an offer which Claiborne could not be reject in
view of the fact that these outlaws had been flouting his authority and
bringing humiliation upon him before the people (footnote:  When Claiborne
offered a reward of $500 for the arrest of Lafitte, the latter responded
with the offer of $5,000 to any one who would deliver Claiborne to him, a
retaliation that afforded the Creoles much amusement.).  When General
Jackson arrived, however, he gladly accepted Lafitte's offer.