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Jean Lafitte or Laffite (ca1780 - ca1826?), was a pirate in the Gulf of Mexico in the early 19th century. He established his own "kingdom" of Barataria in the swamps and bayous near New Orleans after the Louisiana Purchase of 1803. He claimed to command more than 1000 men and provided them as troops for the Battle of New Orleans (1815). Following this, Jean was engaged in the slave trade after it was banned.
Lafitte was a colorful character, said to have been born in France. He engaged in smuggling and privateering, from his "Kingdom of Barataria" (in what is now Louisiana) recognizing the sovereigntySovereignty is the exclusive right to exercise supreme authority over a geographic region or group of people, such as a nation or a tribe. Sovereignty is generally vested in a government or other political agency, though there are cases where it is held b of no other nation.
A controversial manuscript, known as the 'Journal' of Jean Laffite, relates how, after his announced death in the 1820s, he lived in several states in the United States, raised a family and wrote this journal. At his request the publication of the journal was delayed for 100 years. In the 1950's the journal was translated from the French languageFrench le francais la langue francaise is one of the most important Romance languages, outnumbered only by Spanish and Portuguese. French is the 11th most spoken language in the world, spoken by about 77 million people (called Francophones) as a mother to and published. The original manuscript was purchased by TexasTexas joined the United States of America as its 28th member state in 1845. It has the postal abbreviation TX . The state name derives from a word in a Caddoan language of the Hasinai, tejas meaning friends or allies Spanish explorers mistakenly applied t Governor Price DanielMarion Price Daniel, Sr. October 10, 1910 August 25, 1988) was a politician from the U. State of Texas. Daniel was born in Dayton, Texas and he graduated from Baylor University. He worked as a lawyer in Liberty County, Texas. Daniel won a seat in the Texa and is on display at the Sam Houston Regional Library and Archives in Liberty, TexasLiberty is a city located in Liberty County, Texas. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 8,033. It is the county seat of Liberty County 6. Geography Liberty is located at 30°3'27" North, 94°47'48" West (30. 057546, -94. According to t.
Lafitte claimed never to have plundered an American vessel, and though he engaged in the contraband slave trade, he is accounted a great romantic figure in Cajun Louisiana. His legend was perpetuated in Cecil B. DeMilleCecil Blount DeMille ( August 12, 1881 January 21, 1959) was one of the most successful filmmakers during the first half of the 20th century. He directed hundreds of silent shorts before coming into huge popularity during the 1920s, when he reached the ap’s classic, The Buccaneer and even by a poem of Byron:
After the War of 1812, Lafitte or Laffite was active in the Neutral strip of coast between Spanish Texas and American Louisiana, left unoccupied and lawless until 1821.
His later years are obscure; a man many said was Lafitte died in Yucatan.
A U.S. National Park is named for him, in six physically separate sites in southeastern Louisiana, interpreting the local Acadian culture. The Barataria Preserve (in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana) interprets the natural and cultural history of the uplands, swamps, and marshlands of the region. Six miles southeast of New Orleans is the Chalmette Battlefield and National Cemetery, actual site of the 1815 battle and the final resting place for soldiers from the Civil War, Spanish-American War, World Wars I and II, and Vietnam.
The breakfast cereal character Cap'n Crunch for a while had a pirate nemesis named Jean La Foote , after Lafitte.
Jean Lafitte is the name of a Cajun fishing village and tourist spot sited on Bayou Barataria.