Dominique You
Dominique You was a notable figure in early 19th-century piracy and privateering in the Gulf of Mexico. Possibly the older half-brother of famous pirates Jean and Pierre Laffite, You had maritime experience before joining Napoleon Bonaparte's army and later participating in efforts to quell a slave rebellion in Haiti. After relocating to New Orleans in 1803, he became allied with the Laffite brothers, engaging in piracy and privateering, often capturing merchant vessels indiscriminately. His activities garnered significant attention and complaints from various national merchants, leading to U.S. government intervention in 1814.
Despite being captured and indicted for piracy, You earned a pardon after aiding General Andrew Jackson in the defense of New Orleans during the War of 1812, where he received commendation for his military efforts. Although he returned to piracy briefly, financial difficulties led him to a political career in New Orleans, where he lived until his death in relative poverty. Despite his decline, You was honored with a grand funeral, illustrating his complex legacy as a local hero and a disruptor of maritime commerce. His life and actions contributed to the enduring image of the privateer and played a role in shaping the historical narrative surrounding the Battle of New Orleans.
Subject Terms
Dominique You
- Born: c. 1772
- Birthplace: Haiti
- Died: November 15, 1830
- Place of death: New Orleans, Louisiana
Caribbean pirate and privateer
Cause of notoriety: A highly successful pirate and privateer operating in the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea, You worked in close coordination with the pirate community headed by Jean Laffite and, as a result, helped defend the city of New Orleans when the British invaded it in January, 1815.
Active: 1805-1830
Locale: Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea
Early Life
Little is known about the early life of Dominique You (dahm-ih-NEEK yoo). He may have been the older half brother of the most famous American pirates, Jean and Pierre Laffite. There is evidence that, as a young man, You had experience at sea. By the 1790’s, he had made his way to France, where he served as an artilleryman in Napoleon Bonaparte’s army. By 1802, he was a member of the expeditionary force led by General Charles LeClerc to put down a slave rebellion in San Dominique (now Haiti). When the French force was defeated, You remained in the New World and eventually made his way to New Orleans, which became part of the United States in 1803.
Pirating Career
Shortly after arriving in New Orleans, You joined forces with the Laffite brothers, who had established a stronghold for smugglers south of the city in Barataria Bay. By 1805, he was captain of a ship that preyed on merchant vessels from countries doing business in the region. At times, You operated as a privateer, commissioned by one of the governments with interests in the region to capture vessels of hostile nations. At other times, he sailed as a simple pirate, carrying on his activities purely for personal profit. Like other Gulf pirates and privateers, You and his comrades made little effort to distinguish among the nationalities of ships that they captured, and the Laffites’ network in and around New Orleans provided You a ready market for the goods he obtained. Their success eventually provoked an outcry from Spanish, French, British, and American merchants, who were losing fortunes to these audacious nautical bandits.
In the summer of 1814, reacting to the disruption and political scandal caused by the Gulf pirates, the United States government sent a naval force to destroy the Laffites’ headquarters. You was captured, and in November, 1814, he was indicted for his crimes. He was never tried, however, as he and the Laffites agreed to assist U.S. forces under the command of General Andrew Jackson in defending New Orleans against an impending British attack. You’s actions in January, 1815, as commander of an artillery battery earned him a personal commendation from Jackson and a pardon for past transgressions.
After the Battle of New Orleans, You went back to pirating for a time, but some financial reverses caused him to give up the trade. Although he was engaged briefly in a plot to free Napoleon Bonaparte from exile and bring him to America, You spent most of the last decade of his life working as a local politician in New Orleans, where he had purchased a home. During his final years, he became increasingly destitute, and though he was revered by the local populace, he died penniless. Nevertheless, the city paid for an elaborate funeral, and businesses were closed on the day he was buried.
Impact
Along with his fellow pirates and privateers, Dominique You had a major hand in disrupting commerce in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean for more than twenty years. He helped create the legend of the privateer as a heroic daredevil, an image that lived on despite the realities of the profession. His actions at the Battle of New Orleans were certainly instrumental in the Americans’ victory, thereby helping to establish Andrew Jackson’s reputation as a military hero and launch a political career that eventually led Jackson to the White House.
Bibliography
Davis, William C. The Pirates Laffite: The Treacherous World of the Corsairs of the Gulf. New York: Harcourt, 2005. Brief discussion of You’s dealings with the Laffite brothers during his career as a privateer.
Lagarde, François, ed. The French in Texas: History, Migration, Culture. Austin: University of Texas Press, 2003. A chapter on French pirates and privateers sketches You’s association with the Laffite brothers and his career after the Battle of New Orleans.
Remini, Robert. The Battle of New Orleans. New York: Viking, 1999. Concentrates on You’s role in supporting the Americans at the Battle of New Orleans and on his personal relationship with Andrew Jackson.