John Paul Jones
July 6, 1747 – July 18, 1792
John Paul Jones
Nickname	"Father of the American Navy"
Place of birth	Kirkcudbright, Scotland
Place of death	Paris, France
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	Continental Navy Imperial Russian Navy
Years of service	1775 – 1788
Rank	Captain (USA) Rear Admiral (Russia)
Awards	Chevalier Order of Military Merit Congressional Gold Medal Order of St. Anne Légion d'honneur

John Paul Jones (July 6, 1747(1747-07-06) – July 18, 1792 (aged 45)) was America's first well-known naval hero in the American Revolutionary War. Events 1044 - The Battle of Ménfő takes place 1189 - Richard the Lionheart is crowned King of England Year 1747 ( MDCCXLVII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Events 390 BC - Roman - Gaulish Wars Battle of the Allia - a Roman army is defeated by raiding Gauls, Year 1792 ( MDCCXCII) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year Kirkcudbright, (kɚˈkuːbriː ("Kirr Coo Bree" (Cille Chuithbeirt is a town in the south of Scotland in Dumfries and Galloway. Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. Paris (ˈpærɨs in English; in French) is the Capital of France and the country's largest city This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The Continental Navy was formed during the American Revolution in 1775 The Imperial Russian Navy refers to the Tsarist Fleets prior to the Bolshevik Revolution. See " Captain " for other versions of this rank In the uniformed services of the United States, captain is a federal Rear admiral is a Naval Commissioned officer rank above that of a Commodore and Captain, and below that of a Vice Admiral. Not to be confused with the Medal of Honor, sometimes called the "Congressional Medal of Honor" which is the highest military decoration of the United States The Order of St Anna (or "Order of Saint Ann" Орден святой Анны was a Holstein and then Russian Order of chivalry established Events 1044 - The Battle of Ménfő takes place 1189 - Richard the Lionheart is crowned King of England Year 1747 ( MDCCXLVII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Events 390 BC - Roman - Gaulish Wars Battle of the Allia - a Roman army is defeated by raiding Gauls, Year 1792 ( MDCCXCII) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year The United States of America —commonly referred to as the In this article the inhabitants of the thirteen colonies that supported the American Revolution are primarily referred to as "Americans" with occasional references to "Patriots"

John Paul Jones was born 'John Paul' in 1747, on the estate of Arbigland in the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright on the southern coast of Scotland. For other uses see Estate. An estate comprises the houses and outbuildings and supporting farmland and woods that surround the gardens and grounds Arbigland is an estate in Dumfries and Galloway in Scotland. Arbigland lies on the Solway Firth coast to the south east of Kirkbean. The Stewartry of Kirkcudbright (kɚˈkuːbriː Siorrachd Chille Chuithbheirt in Gaelic) or Kirkcudbrightshire (kɚˈkuːbriːʃɚ was formerly a Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. John Paul's father was a gardener at Arbigland, and his mother was a member of Clan MacDuff. Clan MacDuff is a Scottish Armigerous clan, which is registered with Lyon Court, though currently without a chief

John Paul adopted the alias 'John Jones' when he fled to his brother's home in Fredericksburg, Virginia in 1773 to avoid the hangman's noose in Tobago after an incident when he was accused of murdering a sailor under his command, who he claimed had been involved in a mutiny. Fredericksburg is an Independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia and is located 50 miles south of Washington D Tobago is the smaller of the two main islands that make up the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. He began using the name 'John Paul Jones', at the suggestion of his brother.

Although his naval career never saw him above the rank of Captain in the Continental Navy after his victory over the Serapis with the frigate Bonhomme Richard, John Paul Jones remains the first genuine American Naval hero, as well as a highly regarded battle commander. The Continental Navy was formed during the American Revolution in 1775 HMS Serapis was a British frigate launched by the Royal Navy in 1779. For the bird see Frigatebird. A frigate /ˈfrɪgɪt/ is a warship His later service in the Russian Navy as an admiral showed the mark of genius that enabled him to defeat the Serapis.

Jones simply was not as good a politician as he was a naval commander, in an era where politics determined promotion, both in America and abroad. Although he was originally buried in Paris, after spending his last years abroad, he was ultimately reinterred at the United States Naval Academy, a fitting homecoming for the "Father of the American Navy". The United States Naval Academy is an undergraduate college in Annapolis, Maryland, United States that educates and commissions officers of the United States

During his engagement with Serapis, Jones uttered, according to the later recollection of his First Lieutenant, the legendary reply to a quip about surrender from the British captain: "I have not yet begun to fight!"

Maritime Career

John Paul started his maritime career at the age of 13, sailing out of Whitehaven in the northern English county of Cumberland, as apprentice aboard the Friendship. HMS Serapis was a British frigate launched by the Royal Navy in 1779. For the neighbourhood in Memphis Tennessee see Whitehaven Memphis. Cumberland is one of the 39 Historic counties of England. It formed an administrative county from 1889 to 1974 (excluding Carlisle from 1915 and now forms part of During his numerous journeys to Fredericksburg, Virginia aboard this ship, Jones was likely able to visit his brother who had settled in the area. The Commonwealth of Virginia ( is an American state For the next several years he sailed aboard a number of different British merchant and slaver ships, including the King George in 1764 as third mate, and the Two Friends as first mate in 1766. The British Merchant Navy, known simply as the Merchant Navy is the maritime register of the United Kingdom, and describes the seagoing commercial interests As a social-economic system slavery is a legal institution under which a Person (called "a slave" is compelled to work for another See also Seafarer's professions and ranks A Third Mate (3/M or Third Officer is a licensed member of the Deck department of See also Seafarer's professions and ranks A Chief Mate (C/M or Chief Officer, usually also synonymous (except on Passenger liners which

After a short time in this business, Jones became disgusted with the cruelty in the slave trade; during the voyage, Paul abandoned his prestigious position on the profitable Two Friends in 1768 while docked at Jamaica. Jamaica (ˈdʒəˈmeɪkə} is an Island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length and as much as in width situated in the Caribbean Sea. Jones found passage back to Scotland, and eventually he obtained another position. During his next voyage aboard the brig John, which sailed from port in 1768, young John Paul’s career was quickly and unexpectedly advanced. In nautical terms, a brig is a vessel with two square-rigged masts When both the captain and a ranking mate suddenly died of yellow fever, John Paul managed to successfully navigate the ship back to a safe port. Yellow fever (also called yellow jack, black vomit or sometimes American Plague) is an acute viral disease In reward for this impressive feat, the vessel’s grateful Scottish owners made him master of the ship and its crew, giving him 10 percent of the cargo. ^[1] John Paul Jones then led two voyages to the West Indies before running into difficulty. The Caribbean (ˌkærəˡbiən kæ'rəbiən Cariben|Caraïben or Caraïben; Caraïbe or more commonly Antilles; Caribe is a Region consisting During his second voyage in 1770, John Paul viciously flogged one of his sailors, leading to accusations of his discipline being "unnecessarily cruel". Flagellation is the act of whipping (Latin flagellum, "whip" the human body While these claims were initially dismissed, John Paul’s favorable reputation was destroyed when the disciplined sailor died a few weeks later. Sources disagree on whether he was arrested for his involvement in the man’s death, but the devastating effect on his reputation is indisputable. ^[1]

Leaving Scotland, John Paul commanded a London-registered vessel, the Betsy, for a period of about 18 months, engaging in commercial speculation in Tobago. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. Tobago is the smaller of the two main islands that make up the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. This came to an end, however, when Jones killed a member of his crew with a sword in a dispute over wages. ^[2] Years later, in a letter to Benjamin Franklin describing this incident, Jones claimed it was in self-defense, but because he was not to be tried in an Admiral's Court, he felt compelled to flee to Fredericksburg, Province of Virginia, leaving his fortune behind. The Colony of Virginia (also known frequently as the Virginia Colony and occasionally as the Dominion and Colony of Virginia) was the English colony In Fredericksburg, he took charge of his recently-deceased brother’s estate. At some point during this time, he appended Jones to his name, probably in an attempt to escape his troubled reputation.

America

Sources struggle with this period of Jones' life, especially the specifics of his family situation, making it difficult to pinpoint historically accurate motivations. Whether his plans for the plantation were not developing, or else he was inspired by a revolutionary spirit, is unknown. Fundamentally a plantation is usually a large Farm or estate, especially in a tropical or semitropical country on which Cotton, Tobacco

What is clearly known is that Jones left for Philadelphia shortly after settling in America to volunteer his services to the newly-founded Continental Navy, which later became the United States Navy. Philadelphia (ˌfɪləˈdɛlfiə The Continental Navy was formed during the American Revolution in 1775 During this time, around 1775, the Navy and Marines were being formally established, and suitable ship's officers and captains were in great demand. The Continental Marines were the Marine force of the American Colonies during American Revolutionary War. Were it not for the endorsement of Richard Henry Lee who knew of his abilities, Jones' potential would likely have gone unrecognized. Richard Henry Lee (January 20 1732 June 19 1794 was an American statesman from Virginia best known for proposing the motion in the Second Continental With help from influential members of the Continental Congress, however, Jones was the first man to be assigned to the rank of 1st Lieutenant in the Continental Navy on December 22, 1775, on board the Colbert. The Continental Congress was a convention of delegates from the Thirteen Colonies that became the governing body of the United States during the First Lieutenant is a Military rank. The rank of Lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations (see Comparative military ranks Events 1790 - The Turkish fortress of Izmail is stormed and captured by Suvorov and his Russian armies Year 1775 ( MDCCLXXV) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a

Revolutionary War command

Early command

Jones’ first assignment was aboard the frigate Alfred (30 guns, 300 men) sailing from the Delaware River in February 1776 to attack British merchant vessels in New Providence. As Black Prince Black Prince was built at Philadelphia in 1774 The Delaware River is a river on the Atlantic coast of the United States. New Providence is the most populous island in the Bahamas. While the first European visitors to the Bahama Islands were Bermudian salt rakers gathering The Alfred was one of six vessels, the frigate herself commanded by Commodore Esek Hopkins, the Navy’s Commander-in-Chief. Please see " Commodore " for other uses of this rank Commodore is a rank of the United States Navy with a somewhat Esek Hopkins ( 26 April 1718 &ndash 26 February 1802) was Commander in Chief of the Fleet throughout the American Revolutionary War It was aboard this vessel that Jones took the honor of hoisting the first U.S. ensign over a naval vessel. The ensign of the United States refers to the Flag of the United States when worn as an Ensign (a type of Maritime flag identifying nationality (Note that Jones actually raised the Grand Union Flag, not the later and more familiar Stars and Stripes design. The Grand Union Flag, also known as the Congress flag, the First Navy Ensign, the Cambridge Flag, and the Continental Colors, is considered Flags of the United States The Flag of the United States of America consists of 13 equal horizontal stripes of Red (top and bottom alternating ) After returning from this successful voyage in April 1776 aboard the Alfred, Jones was assigned command on the sloop Providence (12 guns, 70 men). For the military definition of sloop see Sloop-of-war. For the open learning project see SLOOP Project. Service as Katy From early 1775 British men-of-war, especially His Majesty’s Frigate, searched Rhode Island shipping and annoyed the Congress had recently ordered the construction of 13 frigates for the American Navy, one of which was to be commanded by Jones. For the bird see Frigatebird. A frigate /ˈfrɪgɪt/ is a warship In exchange for this prestigious command, Jones accepted his commission aboard the smaller Providence. During this six week voyage, Jones captured sixteen prizes and created significant damage along the coast of Nova Scotia. Nova Scotia (ˌnəʊvəˈskəʊʃə ( Latin for New Scotland; Alba Nuadh Nouvelle-Écosse is a Canadian province located on Canada 's Jones’ next command came as a result of Commodore Hopkins' orders to liberate hundreds of American prisoners forced to labor in coal mines in Nova Scotia and also to raid British shipping. On November 1, 1776, Jones set sail in command of Alfred to carry out this mission. Events 996 - Emperor Otto III issues a deed to Gottschalk Bishop of Freising which is the oldest known document using the name Ostarrîchi Year 1776 ( MDCCLXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a While the prisoners enlisted in the British service to end their imprisonment, the mission did result in the capture of the Mellish, a vessel carrying a vital supply of winter clothing intended for Burgoyne’s troops in Canada. General John Burgoyne ( February 24, 1722 &ndash August 4, 1792) was a British army officer Politician Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page In his autobiography, Jones claims: "This unexpected relief contributed not insignificantly to the success of the army at the Battle of Trenton (against the Hessians) that occurred immediately after my arrival in Boston. Background In the time before the battle American morale was low " ^[3]

Command of Ranger

Despite his successes at sea, upon arrival in Boston on December 16, 1776, Jones' disagreements with those in authority reached a new level. Events 755 - An Lushan revolts against Chancellor Yang Guozhong at Fanyang, initiating the An Shi Rebellion Year 1776 ( MDCCLXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a While in port, the accomplished commander began feuding with Commodore Hopkins, whom Jones believed was hindering his advancement and talking down his campaign plans. As a result of this and other frustrations, Jones was assigned the smaller command, the newly constructed Ranger (18 gun frigate), on June 14, 1777 (the same day the new Stars and Stripes flag was adopted). For the bird see Frigatebird. A frigate /ˈfrɪgɪt/ is a warship Events 1276 - While taking exile in Fuzhou in southern China, away from the advancing Mongol invaders, the remnants of the Year 1777 ( MDCCLXXVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common

Jones meets with the American commissioners in France

After making the necessary preparations, Jones sailed for France on November 1, 1777, with orders to assist the American cause however possible. Events 996 - Emperor Otto III issues a deed to Gottschalk Bishop of Freising which is the oldest known document using the name Ostarrîchi Year 1777 ( MDCCLXXVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common The American commissioners in France (Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and Arthur Lee) listened to Jones' strategic recommendations. Benjamin Franklin ( April 17 1790 was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States of America. John Adams (October 30 1735 July 4 1826 was one of the most influential Founding Fathers of the United States. Dr Arthur Lee ( 20 December 1740 — 12 December 1792) was an American Diplomat during the American Revolutionary They assured him the command of L'Indien, a new vessel being constructed for America in Amsterdam. Amsterdam (pronounced) is the capital and largest city of the Netherlands, located in the province of North Holland in the west Britain, however, was able to divert the L'Indien away from American hands, by exerting pressure to ensure its sale to France instead (who had not yet allied with America). The Kingdom of Great Britain, also known as the United Kingdom of Great Britain, was a State in northwest Europe, in existence from 1707 to 1800 Jones was again left without a command, an unpleasant reminder of his stagnation in Boston from late 1776 until early 1777. It is thought that it was during this time Jones developed his close friendship with Benjamin Franklin, whom he greatly admired. In 1778, he was accepted, together with Benjamin Franklin, into the Masonic Lodge "Les Neuf Sœurs". Les Neuf Sœurs (The Nine Sisters established in Paris in 1776 was a prominent French Masonic Lodge of the Grand Orient de France that was influential

On February 6, 1778, France signed their Treaty of Alliance with America, formally recognizing the independence of the new American republic. Events 46 BC - Julius Caesar defeats the combined army of Pompeian followers and Numidians under Metellus Scipio Year 1778 ( MDCCLXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or The Franco-American Alliance (also called the Treaty of Alliance) was a pact between France and the Second Continental Congress, representing Eight days later, Captain Jones' Ranger became the first American Navy vessel to be saluted by the French, with a nine gun salvo fired from Admiral Piquet's flagship. A salvo is the simultaneous discharge of Artillery or Firearms including the firing of Guns either to hit a target or to perform a Salute flagship is the lead ship in a fleet of vessels a designation given on account of being either the largest fastest newest most heavily armed or for publicity purposes the most well Jones wrote of the event: "I accepted his offer all the more for after all it was a recognition of our independence. "

Finally, on April 10, 1778, Jones set sail from Brest, France for the western coasts of Britain. Events 879 - Louis III becomes King of the Western Franks. 1407 - the lama Year 1778 ( MDCCLXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or Brest (bʁɛst in French, in Breton) is a city in the Finistère department in Bretagne in northwestern France.

Ranger attacks Britain

After some early successes against British merchant shipping in the Irish Sea, on April 17, 1778, Jones convinced his crew to participate in an assault on Whitehaven, the same town where his maritime career began. Events 69 - After the First Battle of Bedriacum, Vitellius becomes Roman Emperor. Year 1778 ( MDCCLXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or For the neighbourhood in Memphis Tennessee see Whitehaven Memphis. Jones was scathing in his later memoirs about the reluctance of his senior officers (having tactfully avoided such matters in his official report): "Their aim, they said, was gain not honor. They were poor: instead of encouraging the morale of the crew, they excited them to disobedience; they persuaded them that they had the right to judge whether a measure that was proposed to them was good or not. " ^[3] As it happened, contrary winds forced the abandonment of the attempt, and drove Ranger towards Ireland, causing more trouble for British shipping on the way. ^[4]

On April 20, 1778, Jones learned from captured sailors that the Royal Navy sloop-of-war Drake was anchored off Carrickfergus, Ireland. Events 1303 - The University of Rome La Sapienza is instituted by Pope Boniface VIII. Year 1778 ( MDCCLXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or HMS Drake was a twenty-gun Sloop-of-war of the Royal Navy. Originally named Resolution, she was purchased in 1777. Carrickfergus ( is a large town in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɾlənd/ Éire) is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world According to the diary of Ranger's surgeon ^[5], Jones' first intention was to attack the vessel in broad daylight, but his sailors were "unwilling to undertake it" (another incident omitted from the official report). Therefore, the attack took place just after midnight, but in the dark (or perhaps because, as Jones claimed in his memoirs, the man was drunk) the mate responsible for dropping the anchor to halt Ranger right alongside Drake misjudged the timing, so Jones had to cut his anchor cable and run. ^[4]

The wind having shifted, Ranger recrossed the Irish Sea to make another attempt at raiding Whitehaven. Jones led the assault with two boats of fifteen men on April 23, 1778, just after midnight, hoping to set fire to and sink all Whitehaven’s ships anchored in harbor (numbering between 200 to 400 wooden vessels), which consisted of a full merchant fleet and many coal transporters. Events 215 BC - A temple is built on the Capitoline Hill dedicated to Venus Erycina to commemorate the Roman defeat at Year 1778 ( MDCCLXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or They also hoped to terrorize the townspeople by lighting further fires. As it happened, the journey to shore was slowed by the still-shifting wind, as well as a strong ebb tide. The spiking of the town's big defensive guns to prevent them being fired was accomplished successfully, but lighting fires proved difficult, as the lanterns in both boats had run out of fuel. To remedy this, some of the party were therefore sent to raid a public house on the quayside, but the temptation to stop for a quick drink led to a further delay. By the time they returned, and the arson attacks began, dawn was fast approaching, so efforts were concentrated on a single ship, the coal ship Thompson, in the hope that the flames would spread to adjacent vessels, all grounded by the low tide. ^[4] Unfortunately, in the twilight, one of the crew slipped away and alerted residents on a harbourside street. A fire alert was sounded, and large numbers of people came running to the quay, forcing the Americans to retreat, and extinguishing the flames with the town's two fire-engines. However, hopes of sinking Jones's boats with cannon fire were dashed by the prudent spiking. ^[6]

Crossing the Solway Firth from Whitehaven to Scotland, Jones hoped to hold for ransom the Earl of Selkirk, who lived on St Mary's Isle near Kirkcudbright. The Solway Firth is a Firth that forms part of the border between England and Scotland, between Cumbria (including the Solway Plain) and Earl of Selkirk is a title in the Peerage of Scotland, created in 1646 Kirkcudbright, (kɚˈkuːbriː ("Kirr Coo Bree" (Cille Chuithbeirt is a town in the south of Scotland in Dumfries and Galloway. The Earl, Jones reasoned, could be exchanged for American sailors impressed into the Royal Navy. Impressment (colloquially " the Press " or " press-ganging " is the act of conscripting people to serve in the military or navy usually When the Earl was discovered to be absent from his estate, Jones claims he intended to return directly to his ship and continue seeking prizes elsewhere, but his crew wished to "pillage, burn, and plunder all they could". ^[3] Ultimately, Jones allowed the crew to seize a silver plate set adorned with the family’s emblem to placate their desires, but nothing else. Silver (ˈsɪlvɚ is a Chemical element with the symbol " Ag " (argentum from the Ancient Greek: ἀργήντος - argēntos gen Jones bought the plate himself when it was later sold off in France, and returned it to the Earl of Selkirk after the War.

Although their effect on British morale and allocation of defence resources was massive, the attacks on St. Mary’s Isle and Whitehaven resulted in no prizes or profits which under normal circumstances would be shared with the crew. Throughout the mission, the crew, led by Jones's second-in-command Lieutenant Thomas Simpson, acted as if they were aboard a privateer, not a warship. A privateer was a private Warship authorized by a country's Government by Letters of marque to attack foreign shipping

Return to France

John Paul Jones on a postage stamp.

Nevertheless, Jones now led Ranger back across the Irish Sea, hoping to make another attempt at the Drake, still anchored off Carrickfergus. Carrickfergus ( is a large town in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. This time, late in the afternoon of April 24, 1778, the ships, roughly equal in firepower, engaged in combat. Events 1479 BC - Thutmose III ascends to the throne of Egypt, although power effectively shifts to Hatshepsut (according to Year 1778 ( MDCCLXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or Earlier in the day, the Americans had captured the crew of a reconnaissance boat, and learned that Drake had taken on dozens of soldiers, with the intention of grappling and boarding Ranger, so Jones made sure that did not happen, capturing the Drake after an hour-long gun battle which cost the British captain his life. Background Even before the official entry of other nations the American Revolutionary War was by no means confined to American soil naval operations by both the Continental Lieutenant Simpson was given command of Drake for the return journey to Brest. The ships separated during the return journey as Ranger chased another prize, leading to a conflict between Simpson and Jones. Both ships arrived at port safely, but Jones filed for a court-martial of Simpson, keeping him detained on the ship. A court-martial (plural courts-martial) is a Military court. These military courts can determine Punishments for members of the Military subject

Partly through the influence of John Adams, who was still serving as a commissioner in France, Simpson was released from Jones' accusation. John Adams (October 30 1735 July 4 1826 was one of the most influential Founding Fathers of the United States. Adams implies in his memoirs that the overwhelming majority of the evidence supported Simpson’s claims. Adams seemed to believe Jones was hoping to monopolize the mission's glory, especially by detaining Simpson on board while he celebrated the capture with numerous important European dignitaries. ^[7]

Even with the wealth of perspectives, including the commander's, ^[3] it is difficult if not impossible to tell exactly what occurred. It is clear, however, that the crew felt alienated by their commander, who might well have been motivated by his pride. Jones believed his intentions were honorable, and his actions were strategically essential to the Revolution. Regardless of any controversy surrounding the mission, Ranger’s capture of Drake was one of the American Navy’s few significant military victories during the Revolution, and was of immense symbolic importance, demonstrating as it did that the Royal Navy was far from invincible. By overcoming such odds, Ranger’s victory became an important symbol of the American spirit and served as an inspiration for the permanent establishment of the American Navy after the Revolution.

Bonhomme Richard

Engraving based on the painting "Action Between the Serapis and Bonhomme Richard" by Richard Paton, published 1780. Richard Paton (1717–1791 was a British marine painter Paton spent his artistic career in London, where he was born

The "John Paul Jones flag" was entered into Dutch records to help Jones avoid charges of piracy when he captured the Serapis under an "unknown flag. Serapis is a name given to an unconventional early United States Ensign flown from the captured British frigate Serapis. "

"Paul Jones the Pirate", British caricature

In 1779, Captain Jones took command of the 42 gun Bonhomme Richard (or as he preferred it, Bon Homme Richard) ^[8], a merchant ship rebuilt and given to America by the French shipping magnate, Jacques-Donatien Le Ray. Jacques-Donatien Le Ray (1726 &ndash 1803 was a French "Father of the American Revolution " but later an opponent of the French Revolution. On 14 August, as a vast French and Spanish invasion fleet approached England, he provided a diversion by heading for Ireland at the head of a five ship squadron including the 36 gun Alliance, 32 gun Pallas, 12 gun Vengeance, and Le Cerf, also accompanied by two privateers. The Armada of 1779 was an exceptionally large joint French and Spanish fleet intended to facilitate an invasion of England as part of the wider conflict sparked 1779 The new frigate's first assignment was to carry Lafayette back to France to petition the French Court for increased support in the American struggle for independence Several Royal Navy warships were sent towards Ireland in pursuit, but on this occasion, he continued right around the north of Scotland into the North Sea, creating near-panic all along Britain's east coast as far south as the Humber estuary. The North Sea is a marginal, Epeiric sea of the Atlantic Ocean on the European Continental shelf. The Humber is a large tidal Estuary on the east coast of northern England Jones's main problems, as on his previous voyage, resulted from insubordination, particularly by Pierre Landais, captain of the Alliance ^[9]. On September 23, 1779, the squadron met a large merchant convoy off the coast of Flamborough Head, east Yorkshire. Events 1122 - Concordat of Worms. 1459 - Battle of Blore Heath, the first major battle of the English Year 1779 ( MDCCLXXIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Flamborough Head is a seven Mile (≈113 km long Promontory on the Yorkshire Coast of England, between the Filey Yorkshire is a historic county of Northern England and the largest in Great Britain. The 44 gun British frigate HMS Serapis and the 20 gun hired escort Countess of Scarborough placed themselves between the convoy and Jones's squadron, allowing the merchants to escape. HMS Serapis was a British frigate launched by the Royal Navy in 1779.

Shortly after 7 pm began the Battle of Flamborough Head. The American squadron During September 1779 the four remaining vessels from a seven-strong squadron which departed from the anchorage at Groix off L’Orient The Serapis engaged the Bonhomme Richard, and soon afterwards, the Alliance fired, from a considerable distance, at the Countess. Quickly recognising that he could not win a battle of big guns, Jones made every effort to lock Richard and Serapis together (his famous quotation was uttered in reply to a cheerful British taunt during an odd stalemate in this phase of the battle), finally succeeding after about an hour, following which his deck guns and marksmen in the rigging began clearing the British decks. Alliance sailed past and fired a broadside, doing at least as much damage to the Richard as to the Serapis. Meanwhile, the Countess of Scarborough had enticed the Pallas downwind of the main battle, beginning a separate engagement. When Alliance approached this contest, about an hour after it had begun, the badly damaged Countess surrendered.

With Bonhomme Richard burning and sinking, it seems that her ensign was shot away; when one of the officers, apparently believing his captain to be dead, shouted a surrender ^[10], the British commander asked, seriously this time, if they had struck their colors. An ensign is a distinguishing Flag of a ship or a military unit or a distinguishing token emblem or badge such as a symbol of office Striking the colors is the universally recognized indication of Surrender, particularly for ships at sea Jones later remembered saying something like "I am determined to make you strike", but the words allegedly heard by crew-members and reported in newspapers a few days later were more like: "I may sink, but I’ll be damned if I strike!" ^[11].

An attempt by the British to board Bonhomme Richard was thwarted and a grenade caused the explosion of a large quantity of gunpowder on Serapis’ lower gun-deck^[12]. Alliance then returned to the main battle, firing two broadsides. Again, these did at least as much damage to Richard as to Serapis, but the tactic worked to the extent that, unable to move, and with Alliance keeping well out of the line of his own great guns, Captain Pearson of Serapis accepted that prolonging the battle could achieve nothing, so he surrendered. Most of Bonhomme Richard's crew immediately transferred to other vessels, and after a day and a half of frantic repair efforts, it was decided that the ship could not be saved, so it was allowed to sink, and Jones took command of Serapis for the trip to neutral (but American-sympathising) Holland. ^[10]

In the following year, the King of France honoured him with the title "Chevalier". Jones accepted the honor, and desired the title to be used thereafter: when the Continental Congress in 1787 resolved that a medal of gold be struck in commemoration of his "valor and brilliant services" it was to be presented to "Chevalier John Paul Jones". The Continental Congress was a convention of delegates from the Thirteen Colonies that became the governing body of the United States during the Gold (ˈɡoʊld is a Chemical element with the symbol Au (from its Latin name aurum) and Atomic number 79 He also received from Louis a decoration of "Ordre du Mérite militaire" and a sword. By contrast, in Britain at this time, he was usually referred to as a pirate. Piracy is Robbery committed at sea or sometimes on shore without a commission from a sovereign Nation (as distinct from Privateering

Russian service

In June 1782, Jones was appointed to command the 74-gun America, but his command fell through when Congress decided to give the America to the French as replacement for the wrecked Le Magnifique. As a result, he was given assignment in Europe in 1783 to collect prize money due his former hands. At length, this too expired and Jones was left without prospects for active employment, leading him in 1788 to enter into the service of the Empress Catherine II of Russia, who placed great confidence in Jones, saying: "He will get to Constantinople. An emperor (from the Latin " Imperator " is a (male Monarch, usually the sovereign ruler of an Empire or another type of Catherine II, called Catherine the Great (Екатерина II Великая Yekaterina II Velikaya;) reigned as Empress of Russia for 34 years Constantinople (Κωνσταντινούπολις Konstantinoúpolis, or gr ἡ Πόλις hē Polis, Latin: la CONSTANTINOPOLIS " He took the name Pavel Dzhones.

Jones avowed his intention, however, to preserve the condition of an American citizen and officer. An officer is a member of an armed force who holds a position of authority As a rear admiral aboard the 24-gun flagship Vladimir, he took part in the naval campaign in the Liman (an arm of the Black Sea, into which flow the Southern Bug and Dnieper rivers) against the Turks. Rear admiral is a Naval Commissioned officer rank above that of a Commodore and Captain, and below that of a Vice Admiral. The Black Sea is an inland Sea bounded by southeastern Europe, the Caucasus and the Anatolian peninsula ( Turkey Boh redirects here see also BOH tea. The Western Bug or Buh is another river which flows from Ukraine through Poland For the rocket see Dnepr rocket. For other uses see Dnieper (disambiguation. The Ottoman Empire (1299–1923 ( Old Ottoman Turkish: دولتْ علیّه عثمانیّه Devlet-i Âliye-yi Osmâniyye, Late Ottoman and Modern Turkish Jones successfully repulsed Ottoman forces from the area, but the jealous intrigues of Russian officer Prince Grigory Alexandrovich Potemkin and his cohort Prince of Nassau-Siegen caused him to be recalled to St. Petersburg for the pretended purpose of being transferred to a command in the North Sea. Russia (Россия Rossiya) or the Russian Federation ( Rossiyskaya Federatsiya) is a transcontinental Country extending Saint Petersburg ( tr: Sankt-Peterburg,) is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River The North Sea is a marginal, Epeiric sea of the Atlantic Ocean on the European Continental shelf. Here he was compelled to remain in idleness, while rival officers plotted against him and even maliciously assailed his private character through accusations of sexual misconduct. Even so, in that period he was able to author his Narrative of the Campaign of the Liman.

On June 8, 1788, Jones was awarded the Order of St. Anne, but he left the following month, an embittered man. Events 68 - The Roman Senate accepts emperor Galba. 536 - St Silverius becomes Pope (probable Year 1788 ( MDCCLXXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap The Order of St Anna (or "Order of Saint Ann" Орден святой Анны was a Holstein and then Russian Order of chivalry established

Final years and death

John Paul Jones' marble and bronze sarcophagus at the United States Naval Academy

John Paul Jones Memorial in Washington, D.C.

In May 1790, Jones arrived in Paris, where he remained in retirement during the rest of his life, although he made a number of attempts to re-enter the Russian service. A sarcophagus is a Funeral receptacle for a Corpse, most commonly carved or cut from stone The United States Naval Academy is an undergraduate college in Annapolis, Maryland, United States that educates and commissions officers of the United States The John Paul Jones Memorial is a monument in the West Potomac Park of Washington D Washington DC ( formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, the District, or simply D Paris (ˈpærɨs in English; in French) is the Capital of France and the country's largest city In June 1792, Jones was appointed U. S. Consul to treat with the Bey of Algiers for the release of American captives. Consul (abbrev cos; Latin plural consules) was the highest elected office of the Roman Republic and an appointive office under the Empire Algiers (الجزائر Algerian Arabic: Dzayer ( (From kabyle pronunciation Kabyle: Ledzayer, Alger) is the Capital and largest Before Jones was able to fulfill his appointment, however, he died and was found lying face-down on his bed in his third-floor Paris apartment, No. 42 Rue de Tournon, on July 18, 1792. Events 390 BC - Roman - Gaulish Wars Battle of the Allia - a Roman army is defeated by raiding Gauls, Year 1792 ( MDCCXCII) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year A small procession of servants, friends, and loyal soldiers walked his body the four miles (6 km) for burial. He was buried in Paris at the Saint Louis Cemetery, which belonged to the French royal family. Four years later, France's revolutionary government sold the property and the cemetery was forgotten. The area was later used as a garden, a place to dispose of dead animals, and a place where gamblers bet on animal fights.

Symbolic return to America

In 1905, Jones' remains were identified by US Ambassador to France Gen. Horace Porter (Goodheart 2006) who had searched for six years to track down the body using faulty copies of Jones' burial record. Horace Porter (April 15 1837&ndashMay 29 1921 American soldier and diplomat was born in Huntingdon Pennsylvania, the son of David R Thanks to the kind donation of a French admirer, Pierrot Francois Simmoneau, who donated over 460 francs for a lead coffin for Jones, Porter knew what to look for in his search. Porter's team, which included anthropologist Louis Capitan, identified an abandoned site in northeastern Paris as the former St. Louis Cemetery for Alien Protestants. Sounding probes were used to search for lead coffins, and 5 coffins were ultimately exhumed. The third, unearthed on April 7, 1905, was later identified by a meticulous post-mortem examination by Doctors Capitan and Georges Papillault as being that of Jones, and the face was later compared to a bust by Jean-Antoine Houdon. Events 529 - First draft of Corpus Juris Civilis (a fundamental work in Jurisprudence) is issued by Eastern Roman Emperor Year 1905 ( MCMV) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting Jean-Antoine Houdon ( March 20, 1741 &ndash July 15, 1828) was a French neoclassical sculptor

Jones' body was ceremonially removed from his interment in a Parisian charnel house and brought to the United States aboard the USS Brooklyn, escorted by three other cruisers. A charnel house is a vault or building where Corpses and/or bones are stored On approaching the US coast, seven US battleships joined the procession escorting Jones' body back to the US.

In 1913, Jones' remains were finally re-interred in a magnificent bronze and marble sarcophagus at the United States Naval Academy Chapel in Annapolis, Maryland. A sarcophagus is a Funeral receptacle for a Corpse, most commonly carved or cut from stone The United States Naval Academy Chapel in Annapolis, Maryland, is one of two houses of worship on the grounds of the Navy's Service academy. Annapolis is the capital of the US state of Maryland, as well as the County seat of Anne Arundel County. The ceremony was presided over by President Theodore Roosevelt who gave a lengthy tributary speech. Theodore Roosevelt (ˈroʊzəvɛlt October 27 1858 January 6 1919 also known as T

References

This entry incorporates public domain text originally from the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica. The Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition (1910–1911 is a 29-volume reference work that marked the beginning of the Encyclopædia Britannica

• Boudriot, Jean (1987) John Paul Jones and the Bonhomme Richard , Collection archeologie navale française, ISBN 2-903178-20-8 {a technical study of the ship}
• Bradford, James C. Guide to the microfilm edition of the papers of John Paul Jones, 1747-1792. Alexandria, Va. : Chadwyck-Healey, 1986.
• The papers of John Paul Jones, microform edition edited by James C. Bradford. James Chapin Bradford (born in Michigan 1945 is a professor of history at Texas A&M University and a respected specialist in American maritime naval and military history Cambridge, UK ; Alexandria, VA: Chadwyck-Healey, 1986. 10 microfilm reels ; 35 mm.
• De Koven, Reginald (Mrs) (1913) The Life and Letters of John Paul Jones, 2 vols, London : Werner Laurie
• Gilkerson, William (1987) The Ships of John Paul Jones, Annapolis, MD : Naval Institute Press, ISBN 0-87021-619-8 {technical study}
• Goodheart, Adam (2006) Home is the sailor, Smithsonian Magazine, April 2006, p. 32-46
• Harper's Magazine (1855) John Paul Jones, no. Harper's Magazine (also Harper's) is a monthly general-interest Magazine of literature politics culture finance and the arts 62, v. 11, p. 145-170, New York, NY : Harper and Bros
• Morison, Samuel Eliot (1959) John Paul Jones : a sailor's biography, Boston, MA : Little, Brown {Pulitzer prize winning historian}
• Purcell, L. The Pulitzer Prize, ˈpʊlɨtsɚ PULL-it-sər is an American award regarded as the highest national honor in Newspaper journalism, Edward (1993) Who was Who in the American Revolution, New York : Facts on File, ISBN 0-81602-107-4
• Thomas, Evan (2003) John Paul Jones: Sailor, Hero, Father of the American Navy, Waterville, ME : Thorndike Press, ISBN 0-7862-5875-6 {popular biography}

External links

• John Paul Jones and Whitehaven
• SeaCoastNH.com – JPJ
• U.S. Navy - John Paul Jones - FAQ
• Excerpts form the Journals of my Campaign – John Paul Jones
• John Paul Jones Museum
• John Paul Jones
• Unfurling the Flags of John Paul Jones
• Official report by Jones from aboard Serapis in Holland (1779)
• The Best Quote Jones Never Wrote
• Adams Electronic Archive – Memoirs while commissioner (excerpts relating to the Ranger's historic missions)
• John Paul Jones at Find-A-Grave
• John Paul Jones and Asymmetric Warfare
• Battle of Flamborough Head
• John Paul Jones' attack upon Whitehaven, as reported in LLOYD'S EVENING POST, 1778