Jean Lafitte was the first European settler on the island in 1817, making his base of operations here and naming it Campeche. His previous such encampment at Barataria Bay had been raided by the authorities just prior to the War of 1812, which he helped them win. When he was offered the Embrace in 1821, he threw a large party here and then burned the settlement to the ground. It became a naval base for Texas in 1836 to protect the coast from the Mexican navy. Three years later, the city was incorporated and soon became an active port. In the shadows, Lafitte directed all of this and oversaw the city as his own personal holding, away from his sire and the kindred of New Orleans.
After his betrayel of the Sabbat during the Civil War, Lafitte was forced to make this his primary base of operations on the Gulf, splitting his time between here and Lake Charles. Through divination, the Sabbat learned of his new haven and a Tremere antitribu was brought in to lay it low. The resultant storm and tidal surge in 1900 nearly destroyed it utterly. Over a third of the city was destroyed and six thousand people, a sixth of its population, was killed. Lafitte's brother was confirmed destroyed and he himself was thought to have joined him, but he resurfaced a year later in Lake Charles. The city rebuilt and a seawall was erected to prevent a similar disaster in the future.
Over the next several decades, the city recovered and began to blossom into a top resort town. The kindred here enjoy a close relationship with the Houston Camarilla, whom they constantly implore for aid in fighting Sabbat influence on the Gulf, in Louisiana and Florida, as well as Mexico. Throughout the century, they have worked with Camarilla kindred in Lake Charles and Biloxi to control commerce in the entire region. As time goes on, however, Lafitte spends less and less time in this, his own city, preferring to leave its luxury to go to the actual centers of trade.
Galveston is considered part of the territory ruled by the Prince of Houston, though the whole of the island is under the protection of Jean Lafitte and none are allowed to hunt here without his permission. In a sense, Lafitte is a feudal lord and Galveston is his fief. Thus, some have taken to referring to him as the Baron of Galveston.