| John Paul (Paul) Jones participated in the American Revolution. Join: 1776 Project Discuss: 1776 |
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John Paul Jones was a Scottish sailor and the United States' first well-known naval fighter in the American Revolution. Although he made enemies among America's political elites, his actions in British waters during the Revolution earned him an international reputation which persists to this day. As such he is sometimes referred to as the "Father of the United States Navy".[1] He later served in the Imperial Russian Navy at the invitation of Catherine The Great [2] .
John Paul was born in a cottage on the estate of Arbigland near Kirkbean, in the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright on the southwest coast of Scotland on July 6th, 1747 to John Paul, Sr. a gardener on William Craik's estate and Jean McDuff, his wife, who had been Mr. Craik's housekeeper.[3][1][4] The cottage is now known as The Commodore John Paul Jones Cottage. John loved the sea from an early age.[4] John began his education at the parish school near his home, but his formal education ended when he was apprenticed to his first ship.[4]
John Paul was only 13 when he began his maritime career, as an apprentice aboard the Friendship under Captain Benson. [5][1] He was a merchant shipmaster by the age of twenty-one. At one point he was involved in killing a mutinous sailor in self-defense, at which point he fled and added "Jones" to his name in order to conceal his identity.[1] Jones was the name of the bondsman who supported him while he was managing his late brother, William's estate in Virginia.[4]
John Paul served in the military during the years of 1775–88. As an officer of the Continental Navy of the American Revolution, John Paul helped establish the traditions of courage and professionalism that the sailors of the United States Navy today proudly maintain. Having taken up residence in Virginia, he volunteered early in the War of Independence to serve in his adopted country's infant navy and raised with his own hands the Continental ensign on board the flagship of the Navy's first fleet. He took the war to the enemy's homeland with daring raids along the British coast and the famous victory of the Bonhomme Richard over HMS Serapis. After the Bonhomme Richard began taking on water and fires broke out on board, the British commander asked Jones if he had struck his flag. Jones replied, "I have not yet begun to fight!" In the end, it was the British commander who surrendered. [1]
John Paul's final rank in the US Navy was Captain, and in the Imperial Russian Navy was Rear Admiral. He participated in the American Revolutionary War, the Battle of Nassau, the Battle of Block Island, the USS Providence vs HMS Mellish, the Irish/North Sea Campaign, in the Action of 24 April 1778, and the Battle of Flamborough Head. His merits included the Institution du Mérite Militaire, the Congressional Gold Medal, and the Order of St. Anne.
Jones is remembered for his indomitable will, his unwillingness to consider surrender when the slightest hope of victory still burned. Throughout his naval career Jones promoted professional standards and training. Sailors of the United States Navy can do no better than to emulate the spirit behind John Paul Jones's stirring declaration: "I wish to have no connection with any ship that does not sail fast for I intend to go in harm's way." [1]
On September 23, 1779, during the American Revolution, John Paul Jones achieved one of the most celebrated naval victories in U.S. history while commanding the USS Bonhomme Richard. The battle took place off the coast of Flamborough Head, near Yorkshire, England, where Jones faced the formidable British warship HMS Serapis. This clash, later known as the Battle of Flamborough Head, showcased the resilience and audacity of the American forces as they took on the might of the British Navy.
John Paul Jones, born in Scotland in 1747, immigrated to America and quickly became a key figure in the fledgling United States Navy. His early career was marked by daring naval raids and successes, earning him a reputation as a fearless and skilled commander. By the time of the battle, he had already become a legendary figure, but his actions during this particular engagement elevated him to almost mythical status in American history.
Jones’ ship, the USS Bonhomme Richard, was a former French merchant vessel that had been refitted for combat. Despite being slower and less well-armed than the British warships it encountered, Jones and his crew were determined to strike a blow against the British Navy, which at the time was the most powerful maritime force in the world. On that fateful September evening, Jones, along with a small squadron of American and French vessels, encountered a British convoy escorted by HMS Serapis and the Countess of Scarborough.
The battle began with a ferocious exchange of cannon fire. The Bonhomme Richard took heavy damage early on, and its condition seemed dire as the more maneuverable and better-armed Serapis unleashed a relentless barrage. At one point, a British officer, seeing the extent of the damage to Jones’ ship, called out to him, asking if he was ready to surrender. Jones famously responded, “I have not yet begun to fight!” His refusal to give up would become a symbol of the American spirit of determination and perseverance during the Revolutionary War.
As the battle raged on, Jones made the bold decision to lash his crippled ship to the Serapis, engaging in close-quarters combat. With his crew using muskets, grenades, and even pikes, the Americans slowly gained the upper hand. Despite the Bonhomme Richard being on the verge of sinking, Jones and his men fought on fiercely, eventually boarding the Serapis and overcoming the British crew. After several hours of intense fighting, the British captain, Richard Pearson, was forced to surrender.
The victory at Flamborough Head was not just a testament to Jones’ skill as a naval commander, but also to his unyielding determination. Though his ship, the Bonhomme Richard, was so badly damaged that it sank shortly after the battle, Jones’ triumph over the Serapis was a significant morale booster for the American cause. It showed that even against the world’s most powerful navy, American forces could win decisive victories through sheer grit and bravery.
John Paul Jones’ success in the Battle of Flamborough Head became a defining moment in naval history and solidified his place as one of the greatest naval commanders of the Revolutionary War. His legendary refusal to surrender and his bold tactics symbolized the broader American struggle for independence, highlighting the resilience of a nation fighting for its freedom against overwhelming odds. This victory remains one of the most iconic episodes of the American Revolution and a proud chapter in the history of the U.S. Navy.[2]
John Paul Jones died July 18, 1792 of interstitial nephritis and was found lying face-down on his bed in his third-floor Paris apartment, No. 19 Rue de Tournon. A small procession of servants, friends and loyal family walked his body the four miles (6.4 km) for burial. Having no wife or children, he left his entire estate to his sisters and their children.[4] He was buried in Paris at the Saint Louis Cemetery, which belonged to the French royal family. [6]
There is quite an extensive story on his burial and re-interment on Wikipedia.[5] His body was located in 1905, mummified and placed in a lead coffin. On approaching the American coastline, seven U.S. Navy battleships joined the procession escorting Jones's body back to America. On April 24, 1906, Jones's coffin was installed in Bancroft Hall at the United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland, following a ceremony in Dahlgren Hall, presided over by President Theodore Roosevelt who gave a speech paying tribute to John Paul Jones and holding him up as an example to the officers of the Navy. On January 26, 1913, the Captain's remains were finally re-interred in a magnificent bronze and marble sarcophagus at the United States Naval Academy Chapel, Annapolis, Anne Arundel County, Maryland. FindAGrave features a photo of his memorial with what appears to be a casket, in a roped off section of the Chapel. [7]
Places that bear his name:
Ships that bear his name:
Scipio and Cato Jones are identified as "former slaves of Captain Jones" from Virgina. They were both on the crew of Capt. Jones' ship the "Ranger" which sailed from the Piscataqua River in Kittery, Maine on Nov 1, 1777. [8]
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edited by Gerry Bingham
In the 18th and 19th century 13 was a reasonable age for a child to be apprenticed/start work - becoming a ships master so young was an achievement. In answer to Norma's question Jones was a British subject when he began to fight for the revolutionaries, (A renegade Scot, as my father called him) America only became a country on 4th July 1776.
We'll be featuring John Paul Jones in July as our example profile of the week. Feel free to make some updates between now and then. Otherwise, I'll be doing some tinkering closer to the feature date (Jul3).
Thanks! Abby