Cloaked in mystery and intrigue, Jean and
Pierre Laffite came to prominence in the opening decades
of the nineteenth century. William C. Davis surmises that
these two brothers were born in Pauillac, France, as only
one family living there spelled “Laffite” as Jean and
Pierre did, and both claimed to have come from the
Bordeaux region of the country. At some point they
emigrated to San Domingue, a city on the island of
Hispaniola in the Caribbean, then uprisings there led them
to New Orleans.
Pierre Laffite, the older and lesser known
of the two brothers, stood about five feet, ten inches
tall and had a robust and powerfully-built figure. Of
light complexion, he had piercing dark eyes that seemed
slightly crossed. He wore his sandy-colored hair low over
his brow, and spoke English with a French accent. Jean
Laffite, the more charismatic but not necessarily the more
intelligent of the pair, was several inches taller than
his brother. He wore side whiskers along his jaw line, and
like Pierre, had brilliant white teeth. In spite of his
time at sea, he had pale skin, perhaps accentuated by his
dark hair. He had large dark hazel eyes and had a habit of
closing one while he spoke. He dressed with elegance and
style, was often gracious, and enjoyed talking with
others.
Pierre’s business acumen combined with
Jean’s charisma helped them organize the smugglers and
pirates operating out of Barataria into one of the most
profitable operations of the time. Aside from the luxury
goods they sold while evading customs and import duties,
they also supplied slaves at a time when the importation
of slaves into the United States was illegal but New
Orleans was in desperate need of manpower to work the
plantations. A few months before the Battle of New
Orleans, American forces destroyed Barataria, but still
the Laffites and the Baratarians helped Andrew Jackson
defeat the British army. In the ensuing years the brothers
spied for Spain, left New Orleans, and operated for a time
in Galveston either as privateers or pirates. Then they
faded from history.
For those who know the history, and
legends, of the Laffites, not all will agree with Davis’
conclusions, particularly concerning the role they played
in the Battle of New Orleans and in how each met his
demise. I agree the Americans probably would have won
against the British, but perhaps not as decisively as they
did had they not had the help and expertise of the
Baratarians. Pierre probably died as Davis claims, but the
stories of Jean’s death are based on newspaper reports
rather than documented eyewitness accounts and
incontrovertible proof.
The Pirates Laffite is the most
comprehensive examination of the Laffites ever written.
Davis’ extensive research is evidenced in the detailed
endnotes and bibliography of primary and secondary source
material. Until this book, Jean Laffite has always taken
center stage, but Davis methodically shows that Pierre
played an equal or greater role in their success. This
book dispels many myths associated with the Laffites and
perhaps tarnishes their romantic swashbuckling images.
Even so, they remain enigmas almost two centuries later.
This volume is essential reading for anyone interested in
Jean and Pierre Laffite. Only then will you be able to
decide whether you agree or disagree with the author’s
conclusions.
Pirates
and Privateers
