
One of the most infamous characters in New Orleans history was a man named Jean Lafitte. He was a pirate, a smuggler, and a slave trader — not exactly a nice guy — but in certain circles, he was see

One of the most infamous characters in New Orleans history was a man named Jean Lafitte. He was a pirate, a smuggler, and a slave trader — not exactly a nice guy — but in certain circles, he was seen as a dashing and mysterious antihero, maybe even a patriot. Like many figures in New Orleans history, the legend overwhelms the reality.
Pirate or Privateer?
Many considered Lafitte to be a pirate, but he passed himself off as something a little more nuanced: a privateer. He had been granted a (possibly dubious) letter of marque from a nation that had declared war on Spain, and this allowed Lafitte to (maybe) legally raid Spanish ships and keep the booty for himself. This legal permission came in handy because the penalty for unsanctioned piracy was death.
Early Life and Arrival in NOLA
Not much is known about Lafitte’s early life. He may have been born around 1780 in France or the West Indies, but he shows up on the scene in New Orleans with his brother Pierre sometime between 1804 and 1809.
Barataria and the Baratarians
He based his operations in the labyrinthine swamps south of the city, an area known as Barataria. He was backed up by a whole gang of sailors, smugglers and general ne'er do wells, a group known as the Baratarians.
The Business Plan
Lafitte and his Baratarians would capture Spanish merchant vessels, take the loot, and then smuggle the goods through the winding swamps into New Orleans. He sold luxury items like silks, spices, jewels, and, most heinously, enslaved people.
Slave Trader
An 1807 shipping embargo and, later, a complete ban on the foreign slave trade in the United States, made selling enslaved people from Africa and the Caribbean a booming and profitable black market. The money was very good and Lafitte returned to selling enslaved people again and again throughout his career.





![[2026] Essential Ghost Hunting Tools for Paranormal Investigations in New Orleans’ French Quarter](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.sanity.io%2Fimages%2F5oge3n49%2Fproduction%2F42387f8f14a499ef25f1da705bf6e683c1c74027-2248x1686.webp&w=3840&q=75)


