John Paul adopted the alias John Jones when he fled to his brother's home in Fredericksburg, Virginia in 1773 in order to avoid legal troubles in Tobago after he killed a sailor involved in a mutiny. He began using the name John Paul Jones as his brother suggested during the start of the American Revolution.

Though his naval career never reached the heights predicted for him after his victory over the Serapis with the converted slaver Bonhomme Richard, John Paul Jones remains the first genuine American Naval hero, and a highly regarded battle commander. His service in Russia showed the mark of genius that enabled him to defeat the Serapis. Jones simply was not as good a politician as he was a naval commander, in an era where politics determined promotion, both in America and abroad. Though he was originally buried in Paris, after spending his last years abroad, he was ultimately reinterred at the United States Naval Academy, a fitting homecoming for America's first naval hero.

Maritime career

After a short time in this business, John Paul became disgusted with the cruelty in the slave trade; during the voyage, Paul abandoned his prestigious position on the profitable Two Friends in 1768 while docked at Jamaica. John Paul found passage back to Scotland, and eventually he obtained another position. During his next voyage aboard the brig John, which sailed from port in 1768, young John Paul’s career was quickly and unexpectedly advanced. When both the captain and a ranking mate suddenly died of yellow fever, John Paul managed to successfully navigate the ship back to a safe port. In reward for this impressive feat, the vessel’s grateful Scottish owners made him master of the ship, gave him ten percent of the cargo, and the ship's crew.^*

John Paul then led two voyages to the West Indies before running into difficulty. During his second voyage in 1770, John Paul viciously flogged one of his sailors, leading to accusations of his discipline being 'unnecessarily cruel'. While these claims were initially dismissed, John Paul’s favorable reputation was destroyed when the disciplined sailor died a few weeks later. Sources disagree on whether he was arrested for his involvement in the man’s death, but the devastating effect on his reputation is indisputable.^*

Leaving Scotland, John Paul commanded a London-registered vessel for a period of about 18 months, engaging in commercial speculation in Tobago. Facing increasing scrutiny for his questionable past, John Paul left his fortune behind and moved to Fredericksburg, Province of Virginia, in 1773, taking charge of his recently-deceased brother’s estate there. At some point during this time he appended Jones to his name, probably in an attempt to escape his troubled reputation.^*

In America

Revolutionary command

Early command

After returning from this successful voyage in April aboard the Alfred, Jones was assigned command on the sloop Providence (12 guns, 70 men). Congress had recently ordered the construction of 13 frigates for the American Navy, one of which was to be commanded by Jones. In exchange for this prestigious command, Jones accepted his commission aboard the smaller Providence. During this six week voyage, Jones captured sixteen prizes and created significant damage along the coast of Nova Scotia. Jones’ next command came as a result of his proposed plan to the Marine Committee to destroy the enemy’s coal fleet at Isle Royale, and liberate the American prisoners being held there. On November 2, 1776 Jones set sail in command of Alfred to carry out this mission. This northern mission was successful, highlighted by his capture of the British Mellish, a vessel carrying a vital supply of winter clothing intended for Burgoyne’s troops in Canada. In his autobiography, Jones claims, “this unexpected relief contributed not insignificantly to the success of the army at the Battle of Trenton (against the Hessians) that occurred immediately after my arrival in Boston.” ^*

Command of USS Ranger

After making the necessary preparations, Jones sailed for France November 1, 1777, with orders to assist the American cause however possible. The American commissioners in France (Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and Arthur Lee) listened to Jones’ strategic recommendations. They assured him the command of L'Indien, a new vessel being constructed for America in Amsterdam. Britain, however, was able to divert the L'Indien away from American hands, by exerting pressure to ensure its sale to France instead (who had not yet allied with America). Jones was again left without a command, an unpleasant reminder of his stagnation in Boston from late 1776 until early 1777. It is thought that it was during this time Jones developed his close friendship with Benjamin Franklin, whom he greatly admired. In 1778 he was accepted, together with Benjamin Franklin, to the Masonic Lodge "Les Neuf Soeurs".

On February 6, 1778, France signed their Treaty of Alliance with America, formally recognizing the independence of the new American republic. Eight days later, Captain Jones' Ranger became the first American Navy vessel to be saluted by the French, with a nine gun salvo fired from Admiral Piquet’s flagship. Finally, on April 17, 1778, Jones set sail from Brest, France for coastal Britain. Strong winds forced Jones to head towards Ireland instead, leading to a famous encounter with HMS Drake, a 20 gun British Navy sloop.

Controversy aboard Ranger

With Ranger’s main objective frustrated for the time being, Jones convinced his crew to participate in an assault on Whitehaven, the same town where his maritime career began. Jones notes the crew’s reluctance, stating “their aim, they said, was gain not honor… instead of encouraging the morale of the crew, they excited them to disobedience; they persuaded them that they had the right to judge whether a measure that was proposed to them was good or bad.” ^* Jones led the assault with two boats of fifteen men at midnight, hoping to sink all Whitehaven’s ships anchored in harbor (numbered between 200–400), before setting the town itself ablaze. Jones managed to terrorize the town, though it is difficult to tell objectively how much damage was really done. Local records mention only minor fire damage to a coal transporter as wet weather prevented the fire spreading. - He certainly succeeded in spiking Whitehaven's cannon, however, there is no concrete evidence to suggest he did terrorize Whitehaven or its population.

Continuing on from Whitehaven, Jones hoped to hold for ransom the Earl of Selkirk on St. Mary’s Isle, off his birthplace, Kirkcudbrightshire. The Earl, Jones reasoned, could be exchanged for American sailors impressed into the British Navy. When the Earl was discovered to be absent from his estate, Jones claims he intended to return directly to his ship and continue seeking prizes elsewhere. Jones also claims his crew, led by Lt. Simpson, intended to “pillage, burn and plunder all they could,” instead of leaving peacefully. ^* Ultimately, Jones allowed the crew to seize a silver plate set adorned with the family’s emblem to placate their desires, but nothing else. The plate would be later returned to the Earl of Selkirk on August 4, 1785.

The St. Mary’s Isle assault and the earlier attack on Whitehaven had little strategic significance, and resulted in no prizes or profits which under normal circumstances would be shared with the crew. The crew’s reluctance throughout the mission, especially to Jones’ more personal assaults, reveals growing hostility between Lieutenant Simpson, his followers, and their commander.

Return to Brest

Nevertheless, Jones now led Ranger from these shores, hoping to make another attempt at the Drake still anchored in Carrickfergus. This time, Ranger engaged the enemy, capturing the vessel after an hour long battle which cost the enemy captain his life. Lieutenant Simpson was given command of Drake for the return journey to Brest. The ships separated during the return journey as Ranger chased another prize, leading to a conflict between Simpson and Jones. Both ships arrived at port safely, but Jones filed for a court-martial of Simpson, keeping him contained on the ship.

Partly through the influence of John Adams, who was still serving as a commissioner in France, Simpson was released from Jones’ accusation. Adams implies in his memoirs that the overwhelming majority of the evidence supported Simpson’s claims. Adams seemed to believe Jones was hoping to monopolize the mission’s glory, especially by detaining Simpson on board while he celebrated the capture with numerous important European dignitaries. Even with the wealth of perspectives, including the commander’s, [http://www.americanrevolution.org/jpj.html it is difficult if not impossible to tell exactly what occurred. It is clear however, that the crew felt alienated by their commander, who may well have been motivated by his pride. Jones believed his intentions were honorable, and his actions were strategically and symbolically essential to the Revolution. Jones’ attacks along the coast and capture of Drake in fact did have significant symbolic importance, creating widespread panic among a people accustomed to naval dominance and protection.

Regardless of any controversy surrounding the mission, Ranger’s capture of Drake was one of the American Navy’s few significant military victories during the Revolution. Jones was the first American commander to ever claim victory over a military combatant. By overcoming such incredible odds, Ranger’s victory became an important symbol of the American spirit and served as an inspiration for the permanent establishment of the American Navy after the Revolution.

After Ranger

Bonhomme Richard, Pallas, and Alliance engaged the British warships. The 44 gun Serapis engaged the smaller 42 gun Bonhomme Richard. The 32 gun Alliance counter-engaged Serapis. Serapis twice raked Bonhomme Richard with broadsides which cut her mainmast and holed her below the waterline, taking individual hits in return.

With Bonhomme Richard burning and sinking, it is believed her ensign was shot away. The British commander asked if she had struck her colors. Jones has been quoted as saying, “I have not yet begun to fight.” He then rammed Serapis and tied up to her, his marksmen in the rigging clearing the decks of Serapis' so a boarding party was able to cross to Serapis and effect its capture. Meanwhile the 22 gun Countess of Scarborough engaged the 32 gun Pallas and was eventually captured, both ships taking extensive damage.

In the following year, the King of France honoured him with the title "Chevalier". Jones accepted the honor, and desired the title to be used thereafter: when the Continental Congress in 1787 resolved that a medal of gold be struck in commemoration of his "valor and brilliant services" it was to be presented to "Chevalier John Paul Jones". By contrast, in Britain at this time, he was usually referred to as a pirate.

Russia

In June 1782, Jones was appointed to command the 74-gun America, but his command fell through when Congress decided to give the America to the French as replacement of the wrecked Le Magnifique. As a result, he was given assignment in Europe in 1783 to collect prize money due his former hands. At length, this too expired and Jones was left without prospects for active employment, leading him in 1788 to enter into the service of the Empress Catherine II of Russia who placed great confidence in Jones, saying, "He will get to Constantinople." Jones avowed his intention, however, to preserve the condition of an American citizen and officer. As a rear admiral aboard the 24-gun flagship Vladimir, he took part in the naval campaign in the Liman (an arm of the Black Sea, into which flow the Southern Bug and Dnieper rivers) against the Turks. Jones successfully repulsed Ottoman forces from the area, but the jealous intrigues of Russian officer Prince Grigory Alexandrovich Potemkin and his cohort Prince of Nassau-Siegen caused him to be recalled to St.Petersburg for the pretended purpose of being transferred to a command in the North Sea. Here he was compelled to remain in idleness, (although in that period he did author his Narrative of the Campaign of the Liman) while rival officers plotted against him and even maliciously assailed his private character through accusations of sexual misconduct. On June 8, 1788 he was awarded the Order of St. Anne. In August 1789, he left St. Petersburg a bitterly disappointed man.

Final years

In 1792, Jones was appointed U.S. Consul to Algiers, but he died in his obscure third-floor Paris apartment on July 18, before the commission arrived. He was buried in Paris, but, in 1905, his remains were perhaps optimistically identified by Ambassador Gen. Horace Porter (Goodheart 2006), ceremonially removed from his long-forgotten interment in the charnel-house for alien Protestants, and brought to the United States where, in 1913, he was reinterred in the Chapel of the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland, in a ceremony presided over by President Theodore Roosevelt.

Jones in Popular Culture

The University of Virginia has named their basketball arena John Paul Jones Arena, although the arena is named after an alumnus with the same name. It is scheduled to open July 2006 and hometown favorite Dave Matthews Band will headline the grand opening on September 22nd 2006.

See also

• United States Navy
• USS John Paul Jones and USS Paul Jones are ships named in his honor.
• John Paul Jones, the 1959 film starring Robert Stack in the title role

References

This entry incorporates public domain text originally from the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica.

• Jean Boudriot, John Paul Jones and the Bonhomme Richard (1987), technical study of ship
• Reginald De Koven; The Life and Letters of John Paul Jones 2 vol 1913
• William Gilkerson, The Ships of John Paul Jones (1987), technical study
• Samuel Eliot Morison, John Paul Jones (1959), by Pulitzer prize winning historian
• Evan Thomas. John Paul Jones: Sailor, Hero, Father of the American Navy (2003) popular biography

External links

• Harpers Monthly Magazine – "John Paul Jones"
• Virtual American Biographies
• SeaCoastNH.com – JPJ
• L. Edward Purcell, "Who Was Who in the American Revolution" (1993).
• Adam Goodheart, "Home is the sailor..." in ''Smithsonian Magazine April 2006, pp32-46.

External links

• U.S. Navy - John Paul Jones - FAQ
• Excerpts form the Journals of my Campaign – John Paul Jones
• John Paul Jones Museum
• John Paul Jones
• Unfurling the Flags of John Paul Jones
• Official report by Jones from aboard Serapis in Holland (1779)
• The Best Quote Jones Never Wrote
• Adams Electronic Archive – Memoirs while commissioner (excerpts relating to the Ranger's historic missions)
• John Paul Jones at Find-A-Grave

Continental Navy officers | Admirals | Imperial Russian Navy admirals | Natives of Dumfries and Galloway | Scottish-Americans | American Freemasons | 1747 births | 1792 deaths

John Paul Jones (Seefahrer) | John Paul Jones | ג'ון פול ג'ונס | ジョン・ポール・ジョーンズ (軍人) | 约翰·保罗·琼斯