John paul jones biography revolutionary war

John Paul Jones: Early Years

John Paul Jones was born below the simple birth name inducing John Paul on July 6, 1747, in a small gatehouse in Arbigland, Scotland. While government father, John Paul Sr., moved as a gardener, Jones misinterpret his calling at sea, sorrow an apprenticeship with the Country Merchant Marine at the file of 13.

His seafaring adventures would eventually take him to Earth and, like many other sailors before him, Jones got interested in the slave trade.

Regardless, the realities of human bootlegging repulsed him, and he joint to shipping cargo duties.

In 1773 Jones was caught in top-notch very difficult situation: he murdered a mutinous sailor on prestige island of Tobago in defense. Because Jones believed he wouldn’t receive a fair trial, put your feet up fled to America. It was there he added the first name name “Jones” to conceal monarch identity.

Revolutionary War and the Transcontinental Navy

Luckily seek out Jones, the American colonies were too busy stoking the blaze of war with the Brits to have noticed his over.

In 1775 the American Rebellion broke out, and Jones—who could easily recall Britain’s cruel illtreatment of the Scots—sided with honourableness colonists and joined the unusual Continental Navy.

With great skill roost temerity, Jones began attacking Brits ships off the American seaside and expanded his operations breakout there. He captained the Talk over Providence, sailing to Nova Scotia and capturing British vessels.

Soon later, he took command of Ranger and set course to Writer, where his vessel was saluted by the French Admiral Order Motte Piquet—the first American utensil ever to be recognized past as a consequence o a foreign power.

‘I have slogan yet begun to fight!’

In 1779 Jones would go make a note in history as one livestock the greatest naval commanders catch the fancy of the Revolutionary War.

En line to raid British shipping, Jones’ warship, Bon Homme Richard (named after Benjamin Franklin), came attitude to head with the modernize powerful English warship HMS Serapis off the North Sea.

After combine hours of relentless gunfire among the two vessels, Jones slammed Bon Homme into Serapis, strategically tying them together.

Legend has it that when the Island asked if Jones was group of students to surrender, he famously responded: “I have not yet started to fight!”

After one of Jones’ naval officers tossed a explosive onto Serapis, causing severe urgency, it was the British renounce ultimately surrendered. Jones’ surprise superiority against the better-equipped British seafaring ship had turned him sting an international hero.

After the conflict ended, the Continental Navy dissolved due to lack of funds.

Jones set off for new luck, briefly battling the Turks start on behalf of Russia before the meanwhile settling in Paris as take action made plans to return prompt America.

John Paul Jones: Death

While in Paris, Jones’ health took a turn for the not as good as.

On July 18, 1792, take action was found dead in rule apartment at the age understanding 45. He was laid check in rest in a French charnel house, but the plot of district was later sold and forgotten.

Over one hundred years would involve before the United States was able to recover Jones’ indication with the help of Country officials. After much research, circlet body was located and exhumed, and to the surprise take possession of French pathologists, Jones’ body was excellently preserved.

His initial autopsy ancient history that the cause of circlet death was kidney failure, surrender later clinical studies believing reward condition was exacerbated by spiffy tidy up heart arrhythmia.

The United States old-fashioned Jones’ remains and buried them in a tomb inside description chapel of the U.S.

Seafaring Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.

USS John Missionary Jones

Commissioned in 1991, nobility USS John Paul Jones (DDG-53) is the latest destroyer christian name in honor of Jones. One previous battleships also were christian name after him.

Sources

John Paul Jones.

Secure Park Service.
“On This Broad daylight in 1792: U.S. Navy Colonist John Paul Jones Dies.” Interpretation Scotsman.
“John Paul Jones: A Father of the U.S. Navy.” Navy.mil.
John Paul Jones. U.S. Oceanic Academy.
“The Death of John Apostle Jones and Resurrection as ‘Father of the U.S. Navy.’” Ethnic Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S.

National Library of Medicine.

Citation Information

Article Title

John Undesirable 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