Pirate Resigns

[Craig Tx]

From the Texas State Historical Association

Pirate resigns as ruler of Galveston Island

On this day in 1817, pirate Louis Michel Aury resigned his Mexican commission to rule Galveston Island. Aury, born in Paris about 1788, served in the French navy and on French privateers from 1802 or 1803 until 1810, when he became master of his own vessels, which cruised the Caribbean in search of prizes. He joined a group of New Orleans associates who were planning a Mexican revolt against Spain in 1816. Rebel envoy José Manuel de Herrera proclaimed Galveston a port of the Mexican republic, made Aury resident commissioner, and raised the rebel flag on September 13 of that year. Aury's tenure was stormy. Henry Perry, who commanded troops sent by the New Orleans associates for the invasion of Texas, refused obedience to Aury, who also initially refused to cooperate with Francisco Xavier Mina, leader of a filibustering expedition that reached Galveston in November. In the spring of 1817, while Aury was convoying Mina's forces to the Santander River, Jean Laffite seized the opportunity to undermine the skeleton "government" left behind. After resigning his commission, Aury sailed to Florida. He is believed to have died in 1821, though some sources claim he was living in Havana in 1845.


Craig

[Bigsmoke]

Craig,
You just keep coming up with interesting little facts of this portion of history.
Really appreciate your continued participation in providing this info.
John

[Craig Tx]

Thanks John!  I appreciate it!

Craig

[snake eyes]

Craig,
        I agree with bigsmoke.Your post are always interesting and I always look forward
to reading them. Thanks
       Laffite was no Yule Brenner (The Buccaneer) but he sure must of had and exciting and interesting life.
snake-eyes  

[Craig Tx]

Nope he sure wasn't...  But The Buccaneer has always been a favorite of mine.

Craig

[snake eyes]

Craig,
  [/color]

[Hank in WV]

What snake said!