The Death of Jean Laffite

Concerning the death of Jean Laffite ... I translated an article from two Colombian newspapers from 1823.....The first article appeared in the GACETA DE CARTAGENA, where Jean Laffite's ship returned after it's privateering voyage of September 1822-March 1823. The article was then reprinted shortly thereafter in the GACETA DE COLOMBIA (published in the capital of Gran Colombia: Bogota) as follows...I have a photocopy of the original article which came from the Vanderbilt University Collection...(my notes are in bold print)

GACETA DE COLOMBIA

No. XXIX Bogota, Sunday April 20, 1823

NAVAL COMBAT

The Colombian corsair GENERAL SANTANDER of 43 tons, under the command of Captain Jean Laffitte gave chase (at 0500 hours on February 4, at 20 leagues off the port of Omoa (modern day Honduras) in front of the Triumph of The Cross (a monument on the coast near Omoa)) to a Spanish brig schooner and another schooner until 2200 hours that night. The schooner brig was close to surrendering after an hour of combat but then made lantern signals to the schooner and they then both turned on the corsair. After this turnabout, Captain Laffitte was mortally wounded but stimulated the ardor of his crew and turned over command to his second-in-command who then suffered the same fate. The third-in-command, Francisco Similien, continued in combat until 0100 hours and when it became impossible to continue he turned the ship about and the Spanish ships did the same as they were very damaged by the shots from the corsair. Captain Laffitte died from his wounds the next day. The loss of this brave naval officer is moving and the boldness with which he confronted the superior forces demonstrates why he is so well regarded after his heroic death. The schooner brig had 12 cannons aboard and the schooner had six cannon with a 16 pounder in the stern.

From the GACETA DE CARTAGENA issue # 63

Note: I have traced Francisco Similien's family back to the north coast of Cuba and Jean Laffite supposedly had a wife and daughter nearby in Cayo Cristo, Cuba. Research is ongoing to see if there is any merit to this.

When Jean Laffite received his commission in the Colombian Navy in the summer of 1822, it was published in the naval records of Colombia and there was an article in the local newspaper talking about Jean Laffite's presence in Cartagena that summer . Another newspaper article published in New England confirmed that Jean Laffite was spotted on the GENERAL SANTANDER off the coast of Cuba in late 1822. There seems to be no doubt that Jean Laffite was on board this vessel during late 1822-early 1823 and that he either faked his death or he died on board.

There were no subsequent articles published anywhere about Jean Laffite after the Spring of 1823 which leads me to believe that this Death Notice article is accurate.