Louis-Michel Aury facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Louis-Michel Aury
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born | c. 1787 |
| Died | August 30, 1821 |
| Occupation | sailor, privateer |
| Employer | French government, Mexican government, self-employed |
| Known for | privateering and filibustering efforts to overturn governments in East Florida, Mexico, Spanish Texas, the Caribbean Sea, Central America, and South America |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance |  France |
| Service/ |
 French Navy |
| Years of service | 1802 or 1803–1811 |
Louis-Michel Aury (born around 1788 – died August 30, 1821) was a brave French sailor. He became a privateer, which means he was like a government-approved pirate. He sailed in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea in the early 1800s. Aury helped different groups fight for their freedom. He worked to change governments in places like Mexico, Texas, and parts of South America.
Contents
A Young Sailor's Start
Louis-Michel Aury was born in Paris, France. This was sometime in the late 1780s.
Louis Aury joined the French Navy around 1802 or 1803. He worked as a sailor until 1811. His ship was based in the French colonies of the West Indies. From 1802, he sailed on privateer ships. These ships were allowed by their government to attack enemy ships. By 1810, he had earned enough "prize money" from captured ships. This money allowed him to become the captain of his own vessel. He took part in many efforts to change governments. These included places like East Florida, Mexico, and Spanish Texas. He also worked in the Caribbean Sea, Central America, and South America.
Helping South American Independence
Aury decided to help the Spanish colonies in South America. They were fighting for their freedom from Spain. In April 1813, he sailed from North Carolina. He had his own privateer ship. He also had "Letters of Marque" from Venezuela. These papers gave him permission to attack Spanish ships.
In December 1815, he became a commodore in the navy of New Granada (now Colombia). He spent a lot of his own money to help. He managed to get past a Spanish blockade. He rescued hundreds of people from the city of Cartagena de Indias. He took them safely to Haiti. Even after this success, he had disagreements with Simón Bolívar. Bolívar was a famous leader of the Latin American revolutionaries. They argued about payment for Aury's help.
Governor of Galveston Island
Aury later accepted a new job. He became the commissioner of Galveston Island, Texas. This offer came from José Manuel de Herrera. Herrera was a representative from the new Republic of Mexico. He had declared Galveston a port for Mexico. In September 1816, Aury set up a privateering base there.
One of Aury's privateers captured a Spanish ship. Letters on board showed that the port of Soto La Marina in Mexico was unprotected. General Francisco Mina and Colonel Henry Perry learned this. They decided to attack the port. Aury agreed to take them there by ship. They sailed from Galveston on April 6, 1817. The town was captured without a fight. The three commanders then had disagreements. Aury left with his ships and returned to Galveston. Mina marched inland to join other Mexican revolutionaries. He was later captured by Spanish troops and sadly died.
The Amelia Island Event
While Aury was away, another pirate, Jean Lafitte, took control of the Galveston base. When Aury returned to Texas, he tried to set up another base. This attempt at Matagorda Bay did not go well. He finally left Texas in 1817. He went to help a Scottish adventurer named Gregor MacGregor. MacGregor claimed to have permission from the South American countries fighting for freedom. He planned to attack Spanish Florida from Amelia Island.
MacGregor left the island on September 4. Aury sailed into the port of Fernandina on September 17, 1817. After talking with MacGregor's helpers, Amelia Island was linked to the Republic of Mexico. This happened on September 21, 1817. The Mexican flag was then raised over Fort San Carlos. Aury later gave up the island to American forces. This happened on December 23, 1817. Aury stayed for over two months as an unwanted guest. This event in Florida's history is known as the Amelia Island Affair.
Life on Old Providence Island
On July 4, 1818, Aury captured Old Providence Island. This island is in the western Caribbean Sea. He did this with 400 men and 14 ships. The island was home to English-speaking Protestants and their slaves. Aury and his team used the islands as a new base. They wanted to help Central America gain independence. They started a successful settlement there. Its economy was based on Spanish cargo they had captured. Aury also tried to improve his relationship with Bolívar again, but it didn't work out. Under Aury's orders, Fort Libertad was built on Saint Catherine Island.
Plans to Conquer Panama for France
In 1820, Aury had a big idea. He wanted to conquer Panama, which was controlled by Spain. He planned this with some merchants from Kingston. The goal was to help France strengthen its trade in that area. The French Minister of the Navy, however, quietly turned down their offer.
Efforts to Free Central America
In 1820, Guatemala City was still the capital of the Captaincy General of Guatemala. This meant Central America was still under Spain's control. So, it was open to attacks from Spain's enemies. To help Central America gain independence, the Gran Colombian fighters and Aury's ships joined forces. They planned a combined sea and land attack. Their targets were the ports of Omoa and Trujillo in Honduras.
On April 21, 1820, the watchtower at Trujillo Port saw Aury's ships coming. The port's soldiers quickly got ready for the attack. In the afternoon, Aury's ships raised a special flag. It had two blue bars and a white one in the middle. Aury sent a boat to shore. He demanded that the port surrender within one hour. The town did not give up. The next day, Commodore Aury moved his ships closer. They began firing at the port. The attack lasted for hours. The firing stopped when the ships moved out of reach of the port's cannons. Some of the land forces tried to enter the town from the back. But they were spotted and forced to leave.
During the night of April 24, Aury's ships disappeared. On the 25th, the ships appeared off the port of Omoa. For several days, they tried to land. Commodore Aury was not successful. He left the area on May 6.
Some historians believe that the flags of the United Provinces of Central America were inspired by the Argentine Flag. They think privateer Hippolyte Bouchard brought the idea. Others say the flag was based on the Argentine flag, but introduced by Commodore Louis-Michel Aury.
- Flags of Argentina, the United Provinces of Central America & Current National Flags
Aury's Final Days
A document from the local justice and police chief reported Aury's death. He died on August 30, 1821. It's thought he might have been thrown from a horse. A few days later, on September 3, his belongings were listed. He left them to his sister, Victoire Aury. Even though no country officially recognizes him, Aury is seen as a hero. He was part of the Great Colombia liberation fighters because of his connection to Simon Bolivar.
