3. Jean Laffite
Jean Laffite was a smuggler operating in Louisiana during the War of 1812. He was also a privateer, looting British ships and selling the goods for profit. In all his activities, he was helpful to American citizens, though the United States government wanted to put a halt to his operations. Laffite sold tax-free goods. He fought the British on the high seas, when the U.S. was at war with them. He provided military assistance when needed, but he was not operating at government expense. Despite an offer from the British, Laffite shared key information about the British fleet with the American government, only to have his own base raided and his property confiscated by Commodore Patterson of the American Navy. Despite such shabby treatment, Laffite donated flints and gun powder from his own stores to General Jackson’s forces during the Battle of New Orleans. He also provided his own trained artillerymen in defense of the city. Both Andrew Jackson and Jean Laffite are known as heroes of the Battle of New Orleans. But while Jackson went around curtailing the civil liberties of citizens and confiscating their weapons under martial law, Jean Laffite freely gave his own property and military service to save the city he loved. Laffite was a libertarian war hero!
After the United States government refused to return the ships and goods they had confiscated during the Patterson-Ross raid, Lafitte went on to found an anti-Spanish stronghold in Galveston. Despite the fact that the American government forced Laffite out of Galveston so that Spain could take over the territory under the Adams-Onis treaty, Texas was not destined to remain in Spanish hands. The spirit of rebellion that flouted the Neutrality Act was alive and well, and new men rose up to walk in the footsteps of Burr and Laffite.
