Jean Lafitte/Laffite (c. 1780 – c. 1823) is a historic Franco-American privateer and smuggler, active in early 19th century Louisiana. He is affiliated with New Orleans Square, Tom Sawyer Island, and the the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise.
History[]
Background[]
Jean Lafitte was a pirate and smuggler active out of Baratia Bay in the 19th century who was prominent in the city of New Orleans. Lafitte was also known to have been active on Jackson's Island, an island in Missouri which had a history of being connected to pirates such as Captain Jack Sparrow, William Turner and Davy Jones with many shipwrecks, treasures and supernatural aspects. On this island, he also had a tavern named after him called Laffite's Tavern.
From around 1812 to 1815, he assisted president Andrew Jackson in fighting on the side of the Americans in the War of 1812. Jackson's Island appeared to have been a base during this time. On the January 8 of 1815, Lafitte supposedly assisted the Americans by leading ships in the Battle of New Orleans.
Lafitte's proposed crypt.
Development history[]
Jean Lafitte was once considered to be one of the historic pirates that would have appeared within the wax museum attraction which evolved into Disneyland's Pirates of the Caribbean. There was an unbuilt proposed expansion in the 1990s to have a tomb/crypt for Jean Lafitte outside of the Haunted Mansion in Disneyland, which would connect to a pirate's lair/catacomb area underneath of the Rivers of America connecting to Tom Sawyer Island.[1][2] This expansion was not seen through, though a walled off crypt in New Orleans Square labelled 1764 remains as a remnant of it.[3]
Appearances[]
Disneyland[]
Frontierland[]
Pirate's Lair on Tom Sawyer Island[]
A newspaper on a board of the island identifies the island as having once been the base of Jean Lafitte during the War of 1812. The smuggler is also namesake for Laffite's Tavern, a tavern on the island which is used to store equipment for Fantasmic!.
New Orleans Square[]
On the streets of New Orleans Square, there is an anchor with a plaque which reads, "Said to be from a pirate ship commanded by Jean Lafitte in the battle of New Orleans – January 8, 1815 – It is also said that Lafitte’s privateering ships left a wake of blood from the mainland to Barataria Bay – But don’t believe everything you read".[4]
Laffite's Silver Shop[]
This was a shop in New Orleans Square, named for the pirate.[5]
Pirates of the Caribbean[]
The load-area of this attraction is themed to being a dock in the Blue Bayou of New Orleans called, "Laffite's Landing". This may be a reference to how Lafitte historically smuggled through New Orleans' bayou.
Disneyland Paris[]
Pirates of the Caribbean[]
In the Disneyland Paris version of the auction scene, one of the Puerto Dorado citizens held captive by the Auctioneer and Redd is holding an anachronistic portrait of Jean Lafitte.
Shanghai Disneyland[]
Barbossa's Bounty[]
In Barbossa's tavern there is a board with the message, "Do not, under, any circumstances lend Jean the pirate any amount of currency for the purch-ase of rum as he is a scoundrel and not likely to pay!".
Trivia[]
- Jean Lafitte was mentioned as being a compatriot of Black Barty (a Jack Sparrow analogue) in the video-game Kinect Disneyland Adventures.
- Jean Lafitte has been featured in many pieces of media for the Haunted Mansion franchise, including being an ally of the Gracey family in the 2003 film's backstory, an ally of Master Gracey in the Slave Labor Graphics comics, and a compatriot of the sea captain in the audio-story Nuptial Doom.
- Lafitte and Captain Charles Gibbs are both early 19th century pirates/American privateers featured in the Pirates of the Caribbeanfranchise.
Gallery[]
References[]
- ↑ https://longforgottenhauntedmansion.blogspot.com/2017/08/captain-gore-lives.html
- ↑ https://longforgottenhauntedmansion.blogspot.com/2010/09/jean-lafitte-and-mega-theme-temptation.html
- ↑ https://duchessofdisneyland.com/disneyland/1764-crypt/
- ↑ https://duchessofdisneyland.com/disneyland/lafittes-anchor/
- ↑ https://duchessofdisneyland.com/park-history/laffites-silver-shop/