French pirate Jean Lafitte led a crew of privateers and smugglers around New Orleans, Louisiana. He also was involved in the slave trade. During the War of 1812, the British asked for his help in an attack on New Orleans but he revealed their plans to the Americans. During the Battle of New Orleans, in late 1814, Lafitte was in charge of U.S. artillery. Following the war, Lafitte returned to piracy and established his headquarters at Galveston, Texas. After he scuttled an American merchant ship in 1820, his headquarters were raided and destroyed. He continued his pirate raids on the Spanish high seas until he disappeared in 1825.
Jean Lafitte was portrayed by Yul Brynner in "The Buccaneer" (1958).