 The first permanent European settlements on the island were constructed around 1816 by the pirate Louis @-@ Michel Aury as a base of operations to support Mexico 's rebellion against Spain . In 1817 , Aury returned from an unsuccessful raid against Spain to find Galveston occupied by the pirate Jean Lafitte . Lafitte organized Galveston into a pirate " kingdom " he called " Campeche " , anointing himself the island 's " head of government . " Lafitte remained in Galveston until 1821 , when he and his raiders were forced off the island by the United States Navy . 
 The first permanent European settlements on the island <a href='uninflect' title='1'><mark>were</mark></a> constructed around 1816 by the pirate Louis @-@ Michel Aury as a base of operations to support Mexico <a href='null_genetive' title='2'><mark>'s</mark></a>rebellion against Spain . In 1817 , Aury returned from an unsuccessful raid against Spain to find Galveston occupied by the pirate Jean Lafitte . Lafitte organized Galveston into a pirate " kingdom " he called " Campeche " , anointing himself the island <a href='null_genetive' title='3'><mark>'s</mark></a>" head of government . " Lafitte remained in Galveston until 1821 , when he and his raiders <a href='uninflect' title='4'><mark>were</mark></a> forced off the island by the United States Navy . 
The first permanent European settlements on da island was constructed around 1816 by the pirate Louis @-@ Michel Aury as a base of operations to support Mexico  rebellion against Spain . In 1817 , Aury returned from an unsuccessful raid against Spain to find Galveston occupied by tdapirate Jean Lafitte . Lafitte organized Galveston into a pirate " kingdom " he called " Campeche " , anointing himself the island  " head of government . " Lafitte remained in Galveston until 1821 , when he and his raiders was forced off the island by thdanited States Navy .