He was called the Gentleman Pirate, and he was the real hero of the Battle of New Orleans, at least according to Andrew Jackson, even if that battle took place after the war of 1812 had ended. I found one source that puts his birthday on this date, and the story is just too good to challenge it. (OK, it's as bogus as can be, there is no consensus on the continent of birth, very few even guess at the date, other than "1778 to 1781.") How important was Laffite's involvement in the Battle of New Orleans? Jackson's troops had only the flints and powder provided by the outlawed Baratarians. The key battle at Chalmette revolved around geography, which Laffite and his men knew better than any. Laffite's men kept their heads while the regular soldiers cowered behind the ramparts. And when the day was over Jackson had lost 13 men, the British 2600 including their general. A few years later this chivalrous gentleman, handsome rascal, entrepreneur, patron of the arts, this pirate vanished again from history.
Francisco Pizzaro ended the empire of the Incas, and on this day murdered their last emperor. Since he had accepted a stunning ransom for his release, his second in command Hernando De Soto was appalled. Britain dramatically shortened the work week, limiting the labors of teenagers to 69 hours. The Mormons publicly proclaimed the doctrine of plural marriage, and Senator Strom Thurmond talked all day and then some.
And if you need to zip up your jacket this morning, you might stop and tip your hat to Whitcomb Judson.
1533 - Atahualpa, 13th and last emperor of the Inca empire in present-day Peru, is put to death by Spanish conquistador Pizarro despite having paid "a room full of gold" as a ransom.
1833 - The Factory Act was passed by British parliament, providing for inspection and enforcement that had been lacking in previous labor laws, and stipulated that children under 12 must not work more than 48 hours, that children must be ten years old (except in silk mills for some reason), that youths under 18 must not work over 12 hours per day or 69 hours per week, and that those restricted to a 48-hour week must attend some school.
1852 - Elder Orson Pratt, an apostle of the Latter Day Saints, announced at a special church conference at Salt Lake City that "celestial marriage," popularly known as polygamy, was a doctrine and practice of that church. Some in the church had privately practiced polygamy since Joseph Smith dictated a revelation on the subject in 1843. The Mormons maintained this teaching until the Manifest of 1890 (and later federal legislation) outlawed the practice.
1893 - Whitcomb Judson of Chicago, Illinois was granted his 13th US Patent, No. 504,038 for "clasp lockers or unlockers for automatically engaging or disengaging an entire series of clasps by a single continuous movement."
1957 - South Carolina Senator Strom Thurmond, opposing civil-rights legislation, set the record for the longest filibuster in Senate history - he spoke against the 1957 civil rights bill for twenty-four hours, eighteen minutes.
Slovak Uprising Day, Slovak Republic - Starting on this day, resistance fighters in Banska Bystrica and the surrounding countryside harried the fascist wartime government of Slovakia, draining resources from the Russian front, until 50,000 German troops were dispatched in late October to end it.
1780
- Jean Laffite, American privateer - Creole born to French aristocrat
father, there are no records and he claimed Marseilles, Bordeaux, Spain,
Haiti, and, most likely, St Dominique at various times, claimed father
beheaded in French Revolution. First appeared in New Orleans in 1803 but
already knew bayous well, spoke French, Spanish, Italian, and English.
With brother operated blacksmith shop in New Orleans to land and distribute
smuggled and plundered goods. Settled on Grand Terre island in Barataria
Bay 100 miles south of New Orleans in 1808, by 1810 had about 1,000 men
and 50 ships, and carried letters of marque from Cartagena (now part of
Colombia). Laffite plundered Spanish and English ships for slaves, silks,
spices, jewels, art, food, and medicines, he was the largest slave trader
in the area, but allowed no attacks on US shipping. In 1812 British officers
came to Barataria undr a white flag offerring gold and a captain's commission
in the Royal Navy for help in capturing New Orleans, he withheld his answer
and relayed the information to William Claiborne, first US governor of
the Louisiana Territory, who ignored it. While officials sought to capture
him, and succeeded once (he made and forfeited bail), Laffite cut a wide
swath in high-society New Orleans. In 1813 the governor posted a reward
of $500 for Laffite's arrest, Laffite posted a reward of $1500 for anyone
who delivered the governor to Barataria. The US Navy attacked Barataria,
capturing 50 and destroying buildings and the ships that were harbored,
but Laffite got to Andrew Jackson and offered needed supplies and 1,000
men for the Battle of New Orleans. Two batteries manned by Baratarians
were key to winning that battle, and though their stronghold was lost
President James Madison granted pardons and US citizenship. Laffite unsuccessfully
sought return of his property and ships, bought some back at auction,
in 1817 took ontrol of the island where Galveston is now, attacking Spanish
ships under authority of the revolutionary government of Mexico, but never
able to control the men who were attracted to his second island redoubt.
In 1821 was attacked again by the US Navy, he quickly selected a crew
for his flagship "Pride," torched his stronghold, and slipped away at
night. Here we return to mystery. One branch of the legend has him plundering
the Spanish Main for several more years and dying of a plague at 47, based
on the island of Las Mujeres off the Yucatan. A "son" maintained that
he retired to Alton, Illinois and died there on 5 April 1854. There is
evidence that he settled for a while in Charleston, South Carolina, and
conjecture that he fought with Simon Bolivar in the South American revolutions.
In Biblical times, a man could have as many wives as he could afford.
Just like today.
- Abigail Van Buren
Forbid a man to think for himself or to act for himself and you may add
the joy of piracy and the zest of smuggling to his life.
- Elbert Hubbard
Take time to deliberate; but when the time for action arrives, stop thinking
and go in.
- Andrew Jackson
One man with courage makes a majority.
- Andrew Jackson
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