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Anne Bonny
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Beniowski, M.
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 Jean Laffite
Mary Read
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Sir Franics Drake
Stede Bonnet
William Kidd
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Jean Laffite, thought to have been born in France, was more of a
businessman than seafarer. Along with his brother, Laffite practiced pirating and
privateering out of Barataria Bay, south of New Orleans. With over 10 vessels he and
his crew raided among others, British, American, and Spanish vessels. Due to his
frequent trips to various worldwide coastal ports, many in New Orleans traded with
his band of pirates.
Laffite was renown for working his way out of trouble, when arrested by a
certain governor, he failed to show up at the trial. The governor set a bounty for
him at $750, in return, Laffite offered double that price for the capture of the
governor.
British officials offered Laffite monetary rewards among others, in 1814,
in return for his help in their attack on New Orleans. Laffite notified New Orleans
officials, who paid no head to his warnings. A few weeks later a small Naval fleet
attacked, before which Laffite and his crew slipped out of town. Later that same
year, General Andrew Jackson accepted Laffites aid in combat with the British. In
return for his help, he and his crew were pardoned for their maritime crimes, but
lost their pirate privileges in Barataria Bay.
During an increase in naval activity, Laffite and his crew sailed towards
Spanish occupied territory of Texas. He took over Galveston, from where he
established his pirating activities. Being run out of Galveston, he left, but only
after burning the entire settlement. With his brother, Laffite continued pirating
around Central American ports until he died around 1821.×
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