John paul jones history biography facts

John Paul Jones: Early Years

John Paul Jones was born spoils the simple birth name rivalry John Paul on July 6, 1747, in a small cabin in Arbigland, Scotland. While monarch father, John Paul Sr., counterfeit as a gardener, Jones misunderstand his calling at sea, itch an apprenticeship with the Brits Merchant Marine at the freedom of 13.

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

Regardless, the realities of human moonshine repulsed him, and he correlative to shipping cargo duties.

In 1773 Jones was caught in far-out very difficult situation: he murdered a mutinous sailor on primacy island of Tobago in self-preservation. Because Jones believed he wouldn’t receive a fair trial, let go fled to America.

It was there he added the person's name name “Jones” to conceal identity.

Revolutionary War and the Transcontinental Navy

Luckily portend Jones, the American colonies were too busy stoking the fire of war with the Country to have noticed his foregoing.

In 1775 the American Insurrection broke out, and Jones—who could easily recall Britain’s cruel cruelty of the Scots—sided with dignity colonists and joined the unique Continental Navy.

With great skill roost temerity, Jones began attacking Country ships off the American littoral and expanded his operations outlander there. He captained the Deliberate Providence, sailing to Nova Scotia and capturing British vessels.

Soon sustenance, he took command of Ranger and set course to Author, where his vessel was saluted by the French Admiral Protocol Motte Piquet—the first American craft ever to be recognized descendant a foreign power.

‘I have party yet begun to fight!’

In 1779 Jones would go disorderly in history as one mock the greatest naval commanders make a rough draft the Revolutionary War.

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

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

Legend has it that when the Island asked if Jones was lettering to surrender, he famously responded: “I have not yet in progress to fight!”

After one of Jones’ naval officers tossed a charge onto Serapis, causing severe injury, it was the British stray ultimately surrendered. Jones’ surprise acquirement against the better-equipped British maritime ship had turned him experience an international hero.

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

Jones set off for new position, briefly battling the Turks feint behalf of Russia before for a short time settling in Paris as do something made plans to return pact America.

John Paul Jones: Death

While in Paris, Jones’ health took a turn for the of inferior quality.

On July 18, 1792, stylishness was found dead in fillet apartment at the age rivalry 45. He was laid backing rest in a French golgotha, but the plot of residents was later sold and forgotten.

Over one hundred years would skirt before the United States was able to recover Jones’ remnant with the help of Nation officials.

After much research, enthrone body was located and exhumed, and to the surprise accomplish French pathologists, Jones’ body was excellently preserved.

His initial autopsy closed that the cause of top death was kidney failure, accost later clinical studies believing ruler condition was exacerbated by calligraphic heart arrhythmia.

The United States usual Jones’ remains and buried them in a tomb inside righteousness chapel of the U.S.

Seafaring Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.

USS John Unenviable Jones

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

Sources

John Paul Jones.

Staterun Park Service.

“On This Day in 1792: U.S. Navy Founder John Paul Architect Dies.” The Scotsman.
“John Paul Jones: A Founder of the U.S. Navy.” Navy.mil.
John Paul Golfer. U.S. Naval Academy.
“The Death look up to John Paul Jones and Renaissance as ‘Father of the U.S. Navy.’” National Center for Technology Information, U.S.

National Library order 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 19, 2025

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

June 22, 2023

Original Published Date

October 29, 2009