Today in History July 18,1792 John Paul Jones,Naval hero of the American Revolution,died in Paris

various | 7/18/10

[mdittmar]

"I have not yet begun to fight"

Today, the most recognizable name of a naval officer of the American Revolutionary War is that of John Paul Jones.

John Paul was born at Arbigland, Kirkbean, Kirkcudbright, Scotland, 6 July 1747. Apprenticed to a merchant at age 13, he went to sea in the brig Friendship to learn the art of seamanship. At 21, he received his first command, the brig John.

After several successful years as a merchant skipper in the West Indies trade, John Paul emigrated to the British colonies in North America and there added "Jones" to his name. At the outbreak of the American Revolution, Jones was in Virginia. He cast his lot with the rebels, and on 7 December 1775, he was commissioned first lieutenant in the Continental Navy, serving aboard Esek Hopkins' flagship Alfred.

As First Lieutenant in Alfred, he was the first to hoist the Grand Union flag on a Continental warship. On 1 November 1777, he commanded the Ranger, sailing for France. Sailing into Quiberon Bay, France, 14 February 1778, Jones and Admiral La Motte Piquet changed gun salutes — the first time that the Stars and Stripes, the flag of the new nation, was officially recognized by a foreign government.

Early in 1779, the French King gave Jones an ancient East Indiaman Duc de Duras, which Jones refitted, repaired, and renamed Bon Homme Richard as a compliment to his patron Benjamin Franklin. Commanding four other ships and two French privateers, he sailed 14 August 1779 to raid English shipping.

On 23 September 1779, his ship engaged the HMS Serapis in the North Sea off Famborough Head, England. Richard was blasted in the initial broadside the two ships exchanged, losing much of her firepower and many of her gunners. Captain Richard Pearson, commanding Serapis, called out to Jones, asking if he surrendered. Jones' reply: "I have not yet begun to fight!"

It was a bloody battle with the two ship literally locked in combat. Sharpshooting Marines and seamen in Richard's tops raked Serapis with gunfire, clearing the weather decks. Jones and his crew tenaciously fought on , even though their ship was sinking beneath them. Finally, Capt. Pearson tore down his colors and Serapis surrendered.

Bon Homme Richard sunk the next day and Jones was forced to transfer to Serapis.

After the American Revolution, Jones served as a Rear Admiral in the service of Empress Catherine of Russia, but returned to Paris in 1790. He died in Paris at the age of 45 on 18 July 1792. He was buried in St. Louis Cemetery, which belonged to the French royal family. Four years later, France's revolutionary government sold the property and the cemetery was forgotten.

In 1845, Col. John H. Sherburne began a campaign to return Jones' remains to the United States. He wrote Secretary of the Navy George Bancroft and requested the body be brought home aboard a ship of the Mediterrean Squadron. Six years later, preliminary arrangements were made, but the plans fell through when several of Jones' Scottish relatives objected. Had they not, another problem would have arisen. Jones was in an unmarked grave and no one knew exactly where that was.

American Ambassador Horace Porter began a systematic search for it in 1899. The burial place and Jones' body was discovered in April 1905. President Theodore Roosevelt sent four cruisers to bring it back to the U.S., and these ships were escorted up the Chesapeake Bay by seven battleships.

On 26 January 1913, the remains of John Paul Jones were laid to rest in the crypt of the U.S. Naval Academy Chapel in Annapolis, Md. Today, a Marine honor guard stands duty whenever the crypt is open to the public.

[mdittmar]

[North Face inscriptions - above and beneath Captain Jones' statue:]

John Paul Jones
1747-1792
First to compel foreign man-of-war to strike colors to the Stars and Stripes.

[South Face inscriptions - above and beneath a bas relief rendering of Captain Jones raising the United States colors for the first time aboard an American man-o-war:]

"Surrender?
I have not yet begun to fight!"

In life he honored the flag.
In death the flag shall honor him.

[mainepatsfan]

Last weekend I visited a house in Portsmouth, NH where he stayed for a time. Naturally the house contained many paintings of Jones and believe it or not they had an actual photograph of Jones. It was a photo taken of his body after it had been uncovered in France before being shipped back to America as his final resting place. Wasn’t very pretty and I wish I hadn’t seen it.

[Sunshine Sister]

Very interesting post. Thanks for the history lesson.

[mdittmar]

History is fascinating,my favorite subject in school.

[Pharmboy]

Thanks for the post mdittmar and for the freepmail letting me know about it, SunkenCiv...much obliged.

Here is the Flag of the Grand Union that JPJ was the first to fly:

The RevWar/Colonial History/General Washington ping list...

[cardinal4]

Good post..

[aculeus]

Thanks!!

[STE=Q]

Great post!

Thanks for the ping, Pharmboy.

STE=Q

[Captain Jack Aubrey]

I have been to his tomb at Annapolis. Really something to see.

http://uss-rangerguy.com/images/John_Paul_Jones_1.JPG

http://www.usna.edu/PAO/facts/faqjpj.htm

[wagglebee]

His tomb is an incredible monument to one of our Republic’s earliest and greatest heroes.

[freedumb2003]

>>History is fascinating,my favorite subject in school.<<

Sadly there is no linkage between history and today — from the time I was a kid (longer than I like to admit) through today.

I wish history teachers would, by and large, infuse the historical story with passion. Here is a man who, when faced with total defeat, flipped off his opponent, squared his shoulders, and fought even more — to secure the IDEA of liberty, which is taken for granted today (and I also wish that those same teachers would note how that liberty, so important to our Founders that they would die for it, is being handed away by the America-and liberty-hating president and congress-controllers today, but that is a pipe-dream).

At the very least, if kids were to see articles about what really happened, it would excite their imaginations and, God Forbid (/sarc), their patriotism.

[NonValueAdded]

[Pharmboy]

I was privileged to visit the Naval Academy twice during college as a visiting athlete...slept in the field house and ate in the huge mess hall. Visited the tomb back in ‘68 and ‘70.

[GregB]

Ping me...

[Sunshine Sister]

Agreed. I’m always learning stuff I didn’t know. Reading about current political intrigues is almost as much fun. I’m reading the book called Hidden Power about presidential wives right now. Also if you have not read Warlord by Ilario Pantano I would recommend it. I couldn’t put it down

[camle]

JPJ never said “I have not yet begun to fight”. He was asked by the britich to strike his colors, and he refused. when the british commander told him that he would sink and JPS’s reply “I’ll sink, but I’m damned if I strike”.

the commend was ‘edited’ afterwards due to the profanity. see the article in the Museun of Our NAtaional Heritage.

[Sunshine Sister]

Thank you! I didn’t know that either! It’s already been a great day!

[camle]

discovered this little tidbit when I visited the museum several years ago. JPJ was a mason, doncha know.

[ZULU]

Thanks for that link Pharmboy.

JPJ was a GREAT AMERICAN.

I remember reading that he proofed his cannons in New Jersey - in the Pine Barrens.

[SunkenCiv]

This topic was posted 7/18/2010, thanks mdittmar.