Levasseur Family Genealogy & History

Olivier Levasseur, also known as La Buse or The Buzzard, was a notorious French pirate active during the early 18th century. Renowned for his speed and ruthlessness, Levasseur's career highlights include his transition from privateer to pirate, joining forces with infamous figures like Benjamin Hornigold and Samuel Bellamy. Levasseur is most famous for his legendary pirate treasure, reportedly worth $1 billion, and a cryptogram that supposedly reveals its location. He achieved one of piracy's greatest exploits by capturing the Portuguese galleon Nossa Senhora do Cabo, loaded with immense wealth, including gold, silver, and precious jewels.

Born in Calais during the Nine Years' War, Olivier Levasseur hailed from a wealthy bourgeois family. His early life was marked by an excellent education, leading to a career as an architect before his ventures into piracy.

Derrick Levasseur, born February 3, 1984, is a renowned American television personality and private investigator, celebrated for his victorious stint on Big Brother 16. A decorated former police sergeant from Central Falls, Rhode Island, Levasseur boasts extensive experience in undercover operations and crime scene analysis, having collaborated with the ATF, DEA, FBI, and US Secret Service. He transitioned to television, co-hosting Crime Weekly and The Winner's Circle podcasts, and hosting Detective Perspective. His notable achievements include winning $575,000 on Big Brother and receiving the American Red Cross Hero Award in 2017 for a daring rescue.

Thérèse Levasseur, born on 21 September 1721, was best known as the domestic partner, mistress, wife, and later widow of the esteemed Genevan philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Meeting in Paris in 1745, Levasseur provided care and support for Rousseau throughout their 33-year relationship. Despite challenges, including the decision to place their five children in a foundling home, she remained a pivotal figure in Rousseau's life. After his death in 1778, she inherited his belongings and manuscripts, ensuring that his legacy endured. Levasseur later married Jean-Henri Bally and lived in Le Plessis-Belleville until her death in 1801.

Thérèse Levasseur hailed from a respected family in Orléans that had encountered financial difficulties. Her father held a modest official position related to currency but lost it by 1744. Her mother was a shopkeeper whose business eventually failed, prompting the family to relocate to Paris in search of better opportunities.

Raymond Luc Levasseur, born on October 10, 1946, is best known as the former leader of the United Freedom Front, a militant Marxist group active from 1976 to 1984. The organization conducted bombings and bank robberies across the United States to protest against US intervention in Central America, racism, and apartheid in South Africa. Levasseur's radicalization began during his Vietnam War service and was furthered by his involvement with activist groups like the Southern Student Organizing Committee. His leadership in the United Freedom Front marked him as a significant figure in American militant activism during the late 20th century.

Levasseur was born in southwest Maine to French-Canadian immigrant parents from Quebec. His family, including his grandparents, worked in textile mills, which deeply influenced his perspective on class and identity. Growing up, he faced poverty and ethnic bigotry, experiences that shaped his later political views. Levasseur's background was marked by a strong connection to his French-Canadian roots and Catholic upbringing, elements that intertwined with his early life and career.