Dominque You (1775-1830), Pirate and associate of Jean and Pierre Lafitte, born in Haiti about 1775, and little is known of his early life.
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He is supposed to have followed the sea from early years; subsequently he served in the artillery corps during the wars of the French Republic, and in 1802 accompanied General Leclere to Santo Domingo.
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Associating himself with the pirate brothers, Jean and Pierre Lafitte, he soon became their principal captain and was nicknamed “Captain Dominique.”
He won a reputation for boldness and daring. When Venezuela declared her independence, Dominique procured letters of marque from the patriots, and did much damage to Spanish commerce in the Gulf of Mexico.
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In the following years he took part in the unlawful operations of the Lafittes in the bayous, and in July, 1814 a grand jury indicted him for piracy, but he could not be apprehended.
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When the English invaded Louisiana, he offered his services to the Americans and was appointed commander of an artillery company, which he formed from the best gunners of the pirate ships, and which performed such good service in the Battle of New Orleans that General Andrew Jackson, wished he had “fifty such guns on this line and 500 such devils at their butts.”
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Dominique became a good friend of Jackson, who mentioned him in an order dated Jan. 21, 1815. Following his pardon by President Monroe, he settled quietly in New Orleans, where he enjoyed great popularity as a politician. He was a member of Lodge La Concorde of New Orleans, according to a certificate dated June, 1811.
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His funeral was a notable affair, and persons of all racial, political, and religious affiliations attended. A lot in St. Louis Cemetery No. 2 (Catholic) was purchased by the Freemasons, who also ordered a tombstone with a Masonic emblem inscribed on it. Died in Nov., 1830.
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Source: MasonryToday |