John Paul Jones

John Paul Jones For the Led Zeppelin musician, see John Paul Jones During his next voyage aboard the brig John, which sailed (musician). For other uses, see John Paul Jones (disam- from port in 1768, young John Paul’s career was quickly biguation). and unexpectedly advanced when both the captain and a ranking mate suddenly died of yellow fever. John man- aged to navigate the ship back to a safe port and, in reward John Paul Jones (July 6, 1747 – July 18, 1792) was a Scottish American sailor and the United States' first well- for this impressive feat, the vessel’s grateful Scottish own- ers made him master of the ship and its crew, giving him known naval fighter in the American Revolutionary War. [3] Although he made both friends [1] and enemies among 10 percent of the cargo. He then led two voyages to the America’s political elites, his actions in British waters West Indies before running into difficulty. during the Revolution earned him an international repu- During his second voyage in 1770, John Paul viciously tation which persists to this day. As such, he is sometimes flogged one of his sailors, a carpenter, leading to accusa- referred to as the “Father of the United States Navy” (an tions that his discipline was “unnecessarily cruel.” While epithet he shares with John Barry). He later served in the these claims were initially dismissed, his favorable rep- Imperial Russian Navy, subsequently obtaining the rank utation was destroyed when the sailor died a few weeks of rear admiral. later. John Paul was arrested for his involvement in the man’s death, and was imprisoned in Kirkcudbright Tol- booth but later released on bail.[4] The negative effect of this episode on his reputation is indisputable,[3] although 1 Early life and education the man’s death has been linked to other causes as the physician of a ship where the carpenter traveled home Jones was born John Paul (he added “Jones” in later witnessed in the court. This man was not a usual sailor life as some think to hide from any would-be law en- but an adventurer from a very influential Scottish fam- forcement chase (there was not one) after winning a ily. Leaving Scotland, John Paul commanded a London- spontaneous duel during a dispute over wages though he registered vessel, a West Indiaman mounting 22 guns, could change his Flemish and Scottish Highlander sur- named Betsy, for about 18 months, engaging in commer- name on a Scottish Lowlander/English one more suitable cial speculation in Tobago.[5] This came to an end, how- for life in colonial America where they were loyal to the ever, when John killed a member of his crew, a muti- Protestant House of Hanover) on the estate of Arbigland neer named Blackton, with a sword, in a dispute over near Kirkbean in the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright on the wages.[6] Years later, in a letter to Benjamin Franklin de- southwest coast of Scotland. His father, John Paul, Sr., scribing this incident, he claimed it was in self-defense, was a gardener of Flemish origin at Arbigland, and his but because he was not willing to be tried in an Admiral’s mother was named Jean McDuff (1708–1767). His par- Court again, where the family of his first victim had been ents married on November 29, 1733 in New Abbey, influential, he felt compelled to flee to Fredericksburg, Kirkcudbright. Living at Arbigland at the time was Helen Province of Virginia, leaving his fortune behind. Craik (1751–1825), later a novelist. Paul’s older brother William Paul had married and settled in Fredericksburg, He went to Fredericksburg to arrange the affairs of his Virginia, the destination of many of the youngster’s early brother, who had died there without leaving any other voyages. John Paul started his maritime career at the age family; and about this time, in addition to his original of 12 as an apprentice of John Younger, a Scottish mer- surname, he assumed the surname of Jones. There is a chant shipper.[2] He reached Viriginia for the first time long tradition held in the state of North Carolina that John Paul adopted the name “Jones” in honor of Willie Jones in the age of 13 sailing out of Whitehaven in the north- [7][8] ern English county of Cumberland, as apprentice aboard of Halifax, North Carolina. Friendship under Captain Benson. His sentiments became even more in favor of America. For several years John sailed aboard a number of different From that period, as he afterwards expressed himself to British merchant and slave ships, including King George Baron Joan van der Capellen tot den Pol, America be- in 1764 as third mate, and Two Friends as first mate in came “the country of his fond election.” It was not long 1766. In 1768 he abandoned his prestigious position on afterward that John Paul “Jones” joined the American the profitable Two Friends while docked in Jamaica. He navy to fight against Britain. found his own passage back to Scotland, and eventually obtained another position. 1 2 2 CAREER 2 Career 2.2.2 Command of Ranger 2.1 The American Colonies Despite his successes at sea, upon arrival in Boston on December 16, 1776, Jones’s disagreements with those in authority reached a new level. While at the port, he be- Sources struggle with this period of Jones’s life, especially gan feuding with Commodore Hopkins, who Jones be- the specifics of his family situation, making it difficult to lieved was hindering his advancement and talking down historically pinpoint Jones’s exact motivations for emi- his campaign plans. As a result of this and other frustra- grating to America. Whether his plans for the plantation tions, Jones was assigned the smaller command, the newly were not developing as expected, or if he was inspired by constructed USS Ranger, on June 14, 1777 (the same day a revolutionary spirit, is unknown. the new Stars and Stripes flag was adopted).[11] What is clearly known is that Jones left for Philadelphia After making the necessary preparations, Jones sailed for shortly after settling in North America to volunteer his France on November 1, 1777 with orders to assist the services to the newly founded Continental Navy, precur- American cause however possible. The American com- sor of the United States Navy. During this time, around missioners in France, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams 1775, the Navy and Marines were being formally es- and Arthur Lee, listened to Jones’s strategic recommen- tablished, and suitable ship’s officers and captains were dations. They assured him the command of Indien, a in great demand. Were it not for the endorsement of new vessel being constructed for America in Amsterdam. Richard Henry Lee who knew of his abilities, Jones’s po- Britain, however, was able to divert L'Indien away from tential would likely have gone unrecognized. With help American hands by exerting pressure to ensure its sale from influential members of the Continental Congress, to France instead (who had not yet allied with America). however, Jones was to be appointed as a 1st Lieutenant Jones was again left without a command, an unpleasant of the newly converted 24-gun frigate USS Alfred in the reminder of his stagnation in Boston from late 1776 until Continental Navy on December 7, 1775.[9] 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, to- 2.2 Revolutionary War command gether with Benjamin Franklin, into the Masonic Lodge “Les Neuf Sœurs”. 2.2.1 Early command On February 6, 1778, France signed the Treaty of Al- liance with America, formally recognizing the indepen- Jones sailed from the Delaware River in February 1776 dence of the new American republic. Eight days later, Alfred aboard on the Continental Navy’s maiden cruise. Captain Jones’s Ranger became the first American naval It was aboard this vessel that Jones took the honor of vessel to be formally saluted by the French, with a nine- hoisting the first U.S. ensign over a naval vessel. Jones gun salute fired from captain Lamotte-Piquet's flagship. actually raised the Grand Union Flag, not the later and Jones wrote of the event: “I accepted his offer all the more familiar Flag of the United States. The fleet, which more for after all it was a recognition of our indepen- had been expected to cruise along the coast, was ordered dence and in the nation.” instead by Commodore Esek Hopkins to sail for The Ba- hamas, where Nassau was raided for its military supplies. Finally, on April 10, 1778, Jones set sail from Brest, On the fleet’s return voyage it had an unsuccessful en- France for the western coasts of Britain. counter with a British packet ship. Jones was then assigned command of the sloop USS Providence. Congress had recently ordered the construction of thirteen frigates 2.2.3 Ranger attacks the British for the American Navy, one of which was to be commanded by Jones. In exchange for this prestigious com- After some early successes against British merchant ship- mand, Jones accepted his commission aboard the smaller ping in the Irish Sea, on April 17, 1778, Jones persuaded Providence. During this six week voyage, Jones captured his crew to participate in an assault on Whitehaven, the sixteen prizes and inflicted significant damage along the town where his maritime career had begun.[12] Jones later coast of Nova Scotia.

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