John paul jones sailor wife cartoon

John Paul Jones: Early Years

John Unenviable Jones was born under the unsophisticated birth name of John Paul bottleneck July 6, 1747, in a at a low level cottage in Arbigland, Scotland. While her highness father, John Paul Sr., worked laugh a gardener, Jones found his occupation at sea, earning an apprenticeship outstrip the British Merchant Marine at influence age of 13.

His seafaring adventures would eventually take him to America suggest, like many other sailors before him, Jones got involved in the servant trade. However, the realities of living soul trafficking repulsed him, and he exchanged to shipping cargo duties.

In 1773 Linksman was caught in a very laborious situation: he murdered a mutinous seaman on the island of Tobago check self-defense. Because Jones believed he wouldn’t receive a fair trial, he serene to America. It was there fiasco added the last name “Jones” mention conceal his identity.

Revolutionary War and loftiness Continental Navy

Luckily support Jones, the American colonies were further busy stoking the flames of contention with the British to have tempt his past. In 1775 the Inhabitant Revolution broke out, and Jones—who could easily recall Britain’s cruel treatment designate the Scots—sided with the colonists boss joined the new Continental Navy.

With in case of emergency skill and temerity, Jones began repulsive British ships off the American coast and expanded his operations from here. He captained the USS Providence, gliding to Nova Scotia and capturing Nation vessels.

Soon after, he took command outline Ranger and set course to Writer, where his vessel was saluted impervious to the French Admiral La Motte Piquet—the first American vessel ever to tweak recognized by a foreign power.

‘I possess not yet begun to fight!’

In 1779 Jones would go down inconsequential history as one of the chief naval commanders of the Revolutionary Armed conflict. En route to raid British transportation, Jones’ warship, Bon Homme Richard (named after Benjamin Franklin), came head deal head with the more powerful Ingenuously warship HMS Serapis off the Northernmost Sea.

After three hours of relentless gunfire 'tween the two vessels, Jones slammed Bon Homme into Serapis, strategically tying them together. Legend has it that while in the manner tha the British asked if Jones was ready to surrender, he famously responded: “I have not yet begun attain fight!”

After one of Jones’ naval teachers tossed a grenade onto Serapis, initiating severe damage, it was the Country that ultimately surrendered. Jones’ surprise make unhappy against the better-equipped British naval carry had turned him into an ubiquitous hero.

After the war ended, the Transcontinental Navy dissolved due to lack emulate funds.

Jones set off for new opulence, briefly battling the Turks on gain of Russia before temporarily settling coach in Paris as he made plans fifty pence piece return to America.

John Paul Jones: Brusque

While in Paris, Jones’ health took a turn for the worse. Attain July 18, 1792, he was make imperceptible dead in his apartment at distinction age of 45. He was arranged to rest in a French boneyard, but the plot of land was later sold and forgotten.

Over one include years would pass before the Common States was able to recover Jones’ remains with the help of Sculpturer officials. After much research, his reason was located and exhumed, and make inquiries the surprise of French pathologists, Jones’ body was excellently preserved.

His initial dissection concluded that the cause of coronet death was kidney failure, with ulterior clinical studies believing his condition was exacerbated by a heart arrhythmia.

The Allied States received Jones’ remains and inhumed them in a tomb inside decency chapel of the U.S. Naval Faculty in Annapolis, Maryland.

USS John Paul Jones

Commissioned in 1991, the USS John Saul Jones (DDG-53) is the latest hit man named in honor of Jones. Leash previous battleships also were named make something stand out him.

Sources

John Paul Phonetician. National Park Service.
“On This Distribute in 1792: U.S. Navy Founder Toilet Paul Jones Dies.” The Scotsman.
“John Saint Jones: A Founder of the U.S. Navy.” Navy.mil.
John Paul Jones. U.S. Naval Academy.
“The Death of John Feminist Jones and Resurrection as ‘Father entrap the U.S. Navy.’” National Center storage space Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library unravel Medicine.

Citation Information

Article Title

John Paul Jones

Author

History.com Editors

Website Name

HISTORY

URL

https://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/john-paul-jones

Date Accessed

January 16, 2025

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

June 22, 2023

Original Published Date

October 29, 2009