2. Bowie entered into business with Jean Lafitte in Louisiana
Jean Lafitte was a smuggler and pirate of notoriety in Louisiana, who operated with his brother Pierre from a base on Barataria before the War of 1812. The Lafittes profited as smugglers of contraband, including slaves, until the US Navy wiped out their base during the New Orleans campaign. During the war, Pierre was arrested, tried, convicted, and jailed in New Orleans for various illegal activities. Jean offered his services to Andrew Jackson when the British approached New Orleans and following the American victory both brothers were pardoned. In late 1815 the brothers agreed to act as spies for Spain.
In 1817 Jean was sent to Galveston Island, then part of Spanish Texas. Jean used his cover as a spy for Spain to resurrect his piracy and smuggling operations, making weekly trips to New Orleans to meet with Spanish authorities in the city. Galveston was primarily a smuggling base for Lafitte, but it became a gathering place for supporters of the Mexican Revolutionaries, many of them Americans. Newcomers to Galveston were personally interviewed by Lafitte, and were required to swear loyalty to him personally to be allowed to stay. Profits from smuggling and piracy were invested in Louisiana land, bringing Lafitte into contact with the young James Bowie.