Watch the Replay

Born in the late 1700s, Jean Lafitte created a profitable smuggling operation in the Gulf of Mexico with his brother, Pierre. The pair then moved to Galveston Island where they developed the colony of Campeche. For such an enigmatic character, much is still unknown, or misinterpreted, about his life. Learn more about the colorful stories that surround Jean Lafitte, arguably the most famous pirate (or, perhaps, privateer) of the early nineteenth century. The lively look will include his rise to power in Louisiana, his role in the Battle of New Orleans, his smuggling operations in Galveston, and his whereabouts afterward. The presentation is illustrated with slides and a couple of folk songs by Dr. Curley on his guitar.

Dr. Stephen Curley

Regents Professor Emeritus of Liberal Studies, Texas A&M University at Galveston

Dr. Stephen Curley is Regents Professor Emeritus of Liberal Studies and an award-winning teacher of literature, writing, and film at Texas A&M University at Galveston. He received his B.A. from Fordham University and his Ph.D. from Rice University. He has published books about coastal Texas; American war movies; women and minorities in Texas culture; the history of Texas A&M University at Galveston; and a WWII attack transport that became an ocean liner, a maritime training ship, and is now a diving reef.