If one were to think about the professions of Jews who immigrated to the western hemisphere in the 18th and early 19th century, one may think merchant, peddler, store owner, or any other banal job. However, this was not always the case. Jean Lafitte, a French born pirate and privateer during the late 18th and early 19th century, was believed to be a Sephardic Jew! |
Throughout the late 1700s and early 1800s, Lafitte worked alongside his brother, Pierre, to smuggle goods into the port of New Orleans as well as attack and steal goods from merchant ships that wanted to unload at the port. They were extremely successful in their endeavors, and accumulated a relatively large fortune. The two brothers continued their piracy and smuggling in New Orleans until the Embargo Act of 1807 was passed, causing the brothers to flee to Barataria Bay, Louisiana, where they reestablished their ‘business’ (Ingersoll, 1852). |
In mid-September, 1814, American soldiers attacked and took custody of a large percentage of Lafitte’s crew as well as eight of his ships. Jean Lafitte escaped the attack and was thus not imprisoned. By this point in history, the War of 1812 was taking place, and a battle was soon to be approaching near New Orleans. Thus, during Mid-December of the same year, Andrew Jackson met with Lafitte and asked him if he and his men would man their former ships and help to fight against the British in exchange for pardon for their past actions. Lafitte and his crew complied, and in late December of 1814 they helped American forces defeat British forces in a battle that may have resulted in the British seizing New Orleans (Ingersoll & Sugden). After the battle, Andrew Jackson praised both Lafitte and his men for their skills and hard work during the battle that helped lead to an American victory. |