John Paul Jones

By: Ignacio Guzman

Birth
John Paul Jones birth name was
just John Paul, but added Jones
later to escape persecution for
killing a mutinous sailor in selfdefense in 1773.
Born on June 6,1747 in
Kirkcudbrightshire, Great Britain.

Early Life
John Paul Jones started sailing at sea when he was just 12 years
old sailing out of Whitehaven in the north England county
Cumberland.
Leaving Scotland, John Paul commanded a London-registered
vessel, the Betsy, for about 18 months, engaging in commercial
speculation in Tobago. This came to an end, however, when John
killed a member of his crew, a mutineer, Blackton, with a sword in
a dispute over wages.

Family

Siblings: none, John Paul was an only child.

Son of John Paul, Sr. and Jean Paul
Husband of Keziah Jones and Aimee Adele Jones
Father of Moses Wheeler Jones and Daniel Jones

Education

Finished school at the age of 12

Role in The American Revolution

Jones sailed from the Delaware River in February 1776 aboard Alfred
on the Continental Navy's maiden cruise. It was aboard this vessel that
Jones took the honor of hoisting the first U.S. ensign over a naval vessel.
Jones actually raised the Grand Union Flag, not the later and more
familiar Flag of the United States.
Jones participated in a duel between the ships Bon Homme Richard
and the Serapis, a sturdy, new, copper-bottomed frigate. After each
captain sought unsuccessfully to get across his opponent's bow to deliver
a broadside, Jones managed to lash his ship to the Serapis in order to
grapple and board. Jones's sharpshooters soon drove the enemy from the
Serapis's deck with their rain of musket and grenade fire, but below the
deck the enemy cannon roared on, wrecking the Bon Homme Richard's
topsides. Jones abandoned the sinking Richard, took over the Serapis.

Significant Accomplishments
Was awarded the Gold medal of honor.
He was one of the founding fathers and the founded the American
navy.

Famous Quotes
During his engagement with HMS Serapis, Jones uttered, according
to the later recollection of his first lieutenant, the legendary reply
to a taunt about surrender from the British captain: "Surrender,
HELL, I have not yet begun to fight!
"I wish to have no connection with any ship that does not sail fast;
for I intend to go in harm's way." -- John Paul Jones, 1778

Later Life and Death

In May 1790, Jones arrived in Paris where he remained in
retirement for the rest of his life.
In June 1792, Jones was appointed U.S. Consul to treat with the
Dey of Algiers for the release of American captives. Before Jones
was able to fulfill his appointment, however, he died of interstitial
nephritis (kidney disease) and was found lying face-down on his
bed in his apartment on July 18, 1792

Facts
Although he is today generally considered among the greatest of American naval
heroes and the founder of the American naval tradition, his grave was forgotten
until the ambassador to France, Horace E. Porter, discovered it in 1905 after the
expenditure of much of his own time and money. The remains were removed to
Annapolis and since 1913 have been enshrined in a crypt at the U.S. Naval
Academy.
He is often called the Father of the American Navy.
On 23 September 1779, his ship fired upon the HMS Serapis. Battling throughout
the night, it seemed as though Captain Jones would lose the battle since his
ship was sinking. Yet he defeated the bigger and better equipped British Serapis.
John Paul was a ladies man.