War Of 1812 Jean Lafitte. Louisiana Digital Library Though he was a smuggler and privateer Jean Lafitte aided the US. During Mexicos fight for independence revolutionaries encouraged Lafitte to attack Spanish.
He and his older brother Pierre spelled their last name Laffite but English language documents of the time used Lafitte. Pierre was the historically less-well-known older brother of Jean Lafitte. After being run out of New Orleans in 1817 Lafitte re-established his kingdom on the island of Galveston Texas which was known as Campeche.
There was a price on his head and his brother Pierre was actually in prison in New Orleans.
In September 1814 British military officials sought Lafittes help in their campaign to attack the US. And Stanley Clisby Arthur Jean Laffite Gentleman Rover New Orleans 1952 101-38. In 2015 Chalmette Battlefield and other sites of Jean Lafitte commemorated the 200th anniversary of the war that united the United States. Following the War of 1812 Lafitte received a pardon from President James Madison for his service and resumed his career as a pirate on Galvestons Island in Spanish Texas.