Laura Smith was a notorious smuggler and a pirate captain during the early 18th century, most notably in command of the Fleur de la Mort. Originally one of the owners of the Faithful Bride tavern in Tortuga, she left that life to gain riches by joining the buccaneers. She was also the mother of Arabella Smith.
Biography[]
Early life[]
Smith was born in England, where she met and married her husband. Together, they decided to make a life in the New World. They decided to open a tavern in Tortuga, thinking the port was mostly a stop for merchants and sailors.
Tortuga[]
Laura with her daughter, Arabella.
- "I thought ye were dead."
"Oh. Well, I wasn't." - ―Arabella Smith and Laura Smith
After opening the Faithful Bride, the couple discovered that Tortuga was a haven for pirates. They did their best despite this upset, but had financial trouble due to pirates not paying their bills and smashing the furniture. To make matters worse, her husband had become an alcoholic.
One day, Laura overheard a rumrunner complaining that he was having trouble getting past English officials. Smith offered her help in order to make some money. The plan was successful because Royal officials were unwilling to harass a lady and the organization grew, expanding into new areas.
Everything went wrong one day when Left-Foot Louis betrayed her. She was dragged out of the tavern in front of her daughter, Arabella. Outside, she and Louis dueled. Ultimately, she escaped on the Fleur de la Mort, though her daughter believed Louis had killed her.[10] She vowed to return when she had the money to provide Arabella with the life she deserved.
Pirate captain[]
Laura Smith's pirate flag.
- "Watch your tongue, lad! Know that you're at the mercy of Captain Laura Smith!"
- ―Laura Smith
Years later, Louis was magically transported to the deck of her ship by the Sword of Cortés—wielded by Arabella on Isla Fortuna. Laura considered killing him, but decided to let him work with her crew. Shortly afterwards, she happened upon Arabella. She tried to explain what happened and establish a relationship, but Arabella was mad that her mother had never thought to tell her that she was still alive.[11]
Mutiny[]
- "Traitorous thugs!"
- ―Laura Smith to her crew
While Arabella and the crew of the Barnacle was aboard the ship, all of Laura's crew—with the exception of Mr. Reece—mutinied against her. With the help of Jack Sparrow's crew, Laura fought off the mutiny, and retained command of her ship. Laura implored Arabella to remain aboard, but she refused. Laura didn't respect her decision to stay with her friends and ordered Reece to cut the last line holding the Barnacle to the Fleur, trapping Arabella aboard her mother's ship.
New Orleans[]
- "I have returned with a business opportunity that will benefit us both."
- ―Laura Smith to Minuit
The Barnacle and the Fleur both sailed to New Orleans. Both crews met up with each other in the city and embarked on a mission to recover the Sun-and-stars amulet from Madame Minuit. Minuit combined herself, Left-Foot Louis, and Silverback into a giant, snake-like creature to kill Jack Sparrow and Mr. Reece. Laura left with Arabella to wait out the battle. Ultimately, Jack and Reece emerged, wounded severely but victorious. Despite all that had happened, Laura took the crew of the Barnacle except Jack and Fitzwilliam aboard her ship.
With a new crew, Laura set out. They met Billy Turner during their travels and took him on after he helped them defeat a British Royal Navy ship, a fierce sea beast and a group of pirates.[8] Disapproving of her daughter's romantic attraction to Billy, Laura found herself taken prisoner, and held within Poseidon's Peak alongside her crew. There, they met Jack again, and helped him defeat Captain Torrents.[9] Laura's further fate is unknown.
Personality and traits[]
Laura Smith was described to look exactly the same as her daughter, with red hair and brown eyes, but clothed like a pirate[12]. She was also shown to be one in her behavior and actions, both - she was first to punish the people that crossed her, and a liar to boot. Laura often used manipulation in order to fool Arabella that she is doing as her daughter asked of her, just to do something quite different, but not always the opposite of what was asked[13]. She had a weird relationship with Jack Sparrow - she acted around him as if they were equals and bickered with him over the captaincy of her crew. She also drew a vicious sort of satisfaction from his failure's - nearly as much as he did from annoying her. As a mother, she didn't accept Bill Turner as her daughter's choice of boyfriend, possibly because he was weak-mannered and not really a pirate, and wanted her to marry someone she trusted instead. It was implied that she would prefer it to be Mr. Reece.[9]
Like many pirate captains, Laura Smith used a unique Jolly Roger. Her flag was black with a white skull above two crossed roses, where crossbones would normally be.[6]
Behind the scenes[]
Laura Smith's portrait in the Tortuga Tavern.
Laura Smith was first mentioned as Arabella Smith's mother in Jack Sparrow: The Coming Storm.[1] The character was first identified by name in her first appearance in The Age of Bronze.[2]
Portraits of Laura with Arabella can be seen in the Magic Kingdom's Tortuga Tavern restaurant.[citation needed]
It is possible that Laura Smith is a distant relative of a pirate John Smith.[citation needed]
Appearances[]
- Jack Sparrow: The Coming Storm (First mentioned)
- Jack Sparrow: The Siren Song (Mentioned only)
- Jack Sparrow: The Pirate Chase (Mentioned only)
- Jack Sparrow: The Age of Bronze (First appearance) (First identified as Laura Smith)
- Jack Sparrow: Silver
- Jack Sparrow: City of Gold
- Jack Sparrow: Poseidon's Peak
- Jack Sparrow: Bold New Horizons
- Jack Sparrow: The Tale of Billy Turner and Other Stories
Notes and references[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Jack Sparrow: The Coming Storm
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 Jack Sparrow: The Age of Bronze, p. 132-135
- ↑ Jack Sparrow: Silver, p. 86
- ↑ Jack Sparrow: City of Gold, p. 40
- ↑ Jack Sparrow: Silver, p. 81
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Jack Sparrow: Silver
- ↑ Jack Sparrow: City of Gold
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Jack Sparrow: The Tale of Billy Turner and Other Stories
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Jack Sparrow: New Bold Horizons
- ↑ Jack Sparrow: The Pirate Chase, p75.
- ↑ Jack Sparrow: Silver, p. 6
- ↑ Jack Sparrow: The Age of Bronze and Jack Sparrow: Silver
- ↑ Jack Sparrow: Silver and Jack Sparrow: City of Gold
| v • d • eCrew of the Fleur de la Mort | |
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