The real pirates! Result of pirate poll.

The poll is closed. 16 votes were cast.
First of all, thanks to all who voted and those who visited the site.
There were no votes for Captain Crunch, Captain Hook, and Jack Sparrow. Congratulations, those fooled no one. Almost all voted for Blackbeard (15) and Jean Lafitte (15). Again, congratulations, you were correct. Most voted for Captain Kidd (10) and Henry Morgan (13) and were right to do so. Most didn't realize that Thomas Tew (4) and Red Beard (4) were real pirates.

Five of the pirates listed were fictional.
Captain Crunch (suprise! I see no 5 year olds voted)
Captain Hook (From Peter Pan fame)
Jack Sparrow (Pirates of the Caribbean, of course)
Davy Jones (Pirates of the Caribbean)
Billy Bones (Robert Louis Stevenson's novel Treasure Island)

Now to the real pirates!

Blackbeard was an English pirate also known as Edward Teach or Thatch. His ship was the Queen Anne's Revenge and he mainly operated in the Caribbean in the early 1700s. He was killed in 1718. His legend grew after his death.

Red Beard also known as Barbarossa. This one was tricky. He is very obscure, a Turkish pirate. He plagued the Barbary Coast in the early 1500's. Known for his red beard.

Captain Kidd, probably the most famous pirate along with Blackbeard. William Kidd was Scotish. Sailed during the late 1600's. He was tried for piracy and executed. He was hung in 1701. There is probably more information on him than any other pirate out there.

Calico Jack, his given name was John Rackham. He was an English pirate who based his operations in the Caribbean in the early 1700's. He sailed with 2 female pirates. His design of the pirate flag is the one many recognize, the skull with 2 crossed swords. He was hung for piracy in Jamaica in November of 1720. He was a very interesting pirate and there is more information available on him and his female companions in books and articles.

Thomas Tew was an English pirate. He was supposed to have been married with children. He supposedly was shot by a cannon and killed near the Red Sea in 1695.

Henry Morgan, a Welsh pirate, was an Admiral. This is not the Captain Morgan from the Rum commercials. I almost put him in the poll but did not want to confuse the voters. Henry Morgan was noterious and active in the mid to late 1600's. He is considered one of the most successful pirates. He actually retired from piracy and died from, probably, tuberculosis or maybe from liver failure due to his heavy drinking. He died in 1688.

Black Bart was also a Welsh pirate. His name was John Roberts. He supposedly preferred tea to rum, suprising for a pirate! He is considered the most successful pirate ever. He operated off the coast of Africa and the coast of America. He was killed in battle. His body was weighted and he was buried at sea. He died on 10 February 1722 and that date is known as The Blackest Day, the day the Golden Age of Piracy ended.

Jean Lafitte, of French origin, operated in the Gulf of Mexico during the early 1800's. Based his operations off the coast of Louisiana then moved to Galveston, Texas at the end of his career. Hero of the Battle of New Orleans. Previous posts on this site has much more information on him as well as his brother and crew.

I hope this sparked some interest.

Pirate Alley

Pirate Alley is a small block located in the French Quarter between Chartres Street and to Royal Street. The street of the same name, Pirate Alley, runs between the two. Jackson Square is at the entrance at Chartres Street and the alley is sandwiched between St. Louis Cathedral and the Cabildo. It is one of the most visited spots in New Orleans. Many people like to get their photograph at the famous lamppost that marks the entrance. It was originally called Orleans Alley or Orleans Alley South. The name was officially changed to what it had been commonly called by locals to Pirate Alley in 1964.

Pirate Alley has been the meeting place of politicians, smugglers, pirates, theives, poets, writers, businessmen, lovers, etc. It has been painted, photographed, and drawn many times over. Jean Lafitte was jailed here...and escaped. Others were jailed here as well as this was the location of a Spanish prison. The street is narrow, as was common during the time and cobblestoned. There is an air of mystery and intrigue to the place due to its history and the usual feel of what the French Quarter has captured, collected, and made its own through the ages.

The Faulkner House is located here. William Faulkner wrote his first novel there. The house has been restored and is now the location of the Faulkner Society. The first floor is the location of Faulkner House Books.

This is a great area to visit and explore.

The picture was borrowed from the website: atneworleans.com

Jackson Square, a little background history

Jackson Square is the location of a couple of scenes from my book. Also known as Place d'Armes, it is located in the French Quarter in New Orleans. Early New Orleans was centered around this area in the pattern of typical european cities and town squares. After the Battle of New Orleans, it was renamed Jackson Square after the hero of New Orleans, Andrew Jackson. The statue of Jackson was erected in 1856. It was placed at the parks center. St.Louis Cathedral stands behind the square while two other large buildings flank either side. The Cabildo sits on the left and the Presbytere sits on the right which is now a museum.

The park is now a gathering place of painters, artists, street artists and the like. At the forefront of the park is where one would go to catch a carriage ride through the French Quarter. This area has been the inspiration of many writers and painters as well as being in the scenes of many movies.

Learn more about this interesting place in history in my book and make plans to visit New Orleans and explore Jackson Square and the French Quarter.

Maspero's, a New Orlean's Landmark

The Original Pierre Maspero's, the restaurant in the French Quarter, was once used as a warehouse by Jean Lafitte to auction off his plundered treasure. Thought to be originally erected in 1788, this New Orleans landmark has been part of a rich history of the city. Not only did Jean Lafitte and his brother, Pierre, conduct some of their operation from this building, Andrew Jackson plotted the Battle of New Orleans from here, slaves awaited their fates here as this building was used as an auction house.

Located at Rue St. Louis and Rue Chartres, this busy intersection has seen many New Orlean locals, poets, musicians, politicians gather for lunch or business just as Andrew Jackson and Jean Lafitte did 200 years ago.

Discover Maspero's in my book, Lafitte's Black Box then go to New Orleans and discover it for yourself!

Buccaneer's

Buccaneer is a French derived word that is now synonomous with pirate. Buccaneers ravaged the Gulf coast and the Carribean during the late 17th century. They mostly attacked Spainish ships, plundering them of their treasure. Buccaneers were usually licensed by the English crown with a letter of marque giving them permission to attack the foreign ships as a way to do battle with Spain, England's main rival at the time.

Jean Lafitte considered himself, not a pirate, but a privateer (buccaneer). He controlled a fleet of men who looted Spanish and foreign ships, collecting the bounty which they would evenly divide up amongst themselves. From their pirate colony located near the mouth of the mighty Mississippi at Barataria Bay, they ruled the Gulf coast in the early 1800's.

Read more about Jean Lafitte and Buccaneers at your local library. Check out my book, Lafitte's Black Box.

Here's a quick link for a little info on Jean Lafitte (copy and paste)

http://www.freebase.com/view/en/jean_lafitte

Jean Lafitte and his merry men of pirates

Jean Lafitte, the most famous pirate of New Orleans, had a group of his most trusted men, his lieutenants. Each of these men commanded his own ship and reported to Jean Lafitte, whom they called "bos". These bloodthirsty pirates included Dominique Youx and Renato Beluche, both of whom served in Napoleon's navy. Vincent Gambi was also a lieutenant, and was one of the most bloodthirsty pirates to sail in the Gulf of Mexico. He was known to have carried an axe and was also known to have used it on many bloody occasions. Another was Louis Chighizola known as Nez Coupe, or cut nose. It was said he lost half of his nose in a knife fight.

These pirates are found in my book to give the reader a taste of what these pirates were like. They are found on the high seas and at the pirate colony at Barataria Bay. The colony that Jean Lafitte set up to house the pirates and their familys just off the coast of Louisiana near the mouth of the mighty Mississippi.

Jean Lafitte, book signing, and more

It's been awhile since I last posted. Looking at doing a book signing in Zachary, LA at The Bookcase. It will be on a Saturday, May the 8th in the afternoon. I'm working on the second book in the series. I'm currently researching the central historical character and the time frame/setting. As with the first book, I want the reader to come away with a taste of history that will enrich the mind as well as entertain. For those interested in reading more on Jean Lafitte, you can read the following:
The Journal of Jean Laffite: The Privateer-Patriot's Own Story by Jean Lafitte
The Pirate Lafitte and the Battle of New Orleans by Robert Tallant and John Chase
Both are available on Amazon.