The Pirates Laffite: The Treacherous World of the Corsairs of the Gulf

Several years ago as a guest at Jean Lafitte National Park in New Orleans, the park ranger informed our group, "Unfortunately, little is known about the Laffites." Thanks to Mr. Davis, that statement is no longer accurate. Jean and Pierre Laffite's lives have always been intertwined with New Orleans, Andy Jackson and the Battle of New Orleans but there is much more to their amazing story than any of us ever realized. Their influence spanned not only New Orleans but the entire Gulf of Mexico from Cuba and Mexico to Jamaica, Panama, the Windward Islands, the Bahamas and Cartagena, Columbia. More amazingly, their influence was directly felt by Spain, Mexico, Washington, New York, the Carolinas, Florida and Texas. Yes, they were so early in Texas history that they are credited with founding Galveston after they were forced from Barataria Bay. As opposed to the mythical bit players most of us are aware of, Jean and Pierre dominated piracy and intrigue throughout the Gulf of Mexico for over 20 years. Labeled as corsairs and buccaneers for their methods, these brothers ran a privateering cooperative that provided contraband goods to a hungry market and made life hell for the Spanish merchants of the Gulf. Piracy was a growth business and these boys were very serious entrepreneurs. Later, as piracy as an approved economic endeavor waned, they became critical members of a New Orleans syndicate that included lawyers, bankers, merchants and corrupt US officials. This is their story, exceedingly well researched and superbly written, an unvarnished tale of national intrigue and foreign spying that defined and redefined not only piracy throughout the Gulf of Mexico, but the wars and population movements of the time.

Several new pirate coverage's are on the market this season; but none so extensive a coverage as William C. Davis' The Pirates Laffite: The Treacherous World Of The Corsairs Of The Gulf. Jean and Pierre Laffite's lives coincided with New Orleans' most colorful period in history, just after the War of 1812: they ran a privateering cooperative that provided banned goods to the market and their methods bordered on piracy. Author Davis' extensive history background lends to his scholarly yet lively survey of the Lafite brothers' practices and controversial methods.

Davis provides an excellent history of the Laffites and piracy on the gulf coast in general. The Pirates Laffite is especially valuable to readers interested in the gulf pirates of the early-1800s because so many of the works in that field have been based upon legend. While Davis deals with the legends when necessary, his work focuses on the stories that can be verified. His extensive research in both American and European archives as well as his always good writing make this a book to own.

There are few books about the world around New Orleans in the early 1800's. About the Laffite brothers we know little behond their helping Jackson defense of New Orleans fought after the treaty ending the War of 1812 (although the war was still on in New Orleans - the treaty went into effect at the speed of a sailing ship carrying the news). This was a time when the new nation of the United States was preoccupied with too many problems to take on policing of the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. It was too far from Spain to be policed by them. So for a few years the corsairs could run wild. The Laffite brothers (Pierre was the older and the brains of the two, but Jean is more famous for some reason.) could operate for many years as pirates or privateers. Opportunist may be a better word, anything to make a living, with little regard for legalities, but more or less excluding working. This is supurbly researched well told tale of a time little studied. It is a welcome addition to American history.