John Paul Jones (July 6, 1747 – July 18, 1792) was a Scottish sailor and the United States’ first well-known naval fighter in the American Revolutionary War. Although he made enemies among America’s political elites, his actions in British waters during the Revolution earned him an international reputation which persists to this day. He later served in the Imperial Russian Navy.
During his engagement with HMS Serapis, Jones uttered, according to the later recollection of his first lieutenant, the legendary reply to a taunt about surrender from the British captain: “I have not yet begun to fight!”
For the Led Zeppelin musician, see John Paul Jones (musician). For other uses, see John Paul Jones (disambiguation).
I always wondered who stated that quote first.