Born: July 6. 1747
Died: July 18, 1792 Place of Birth: Kirkcudbright, Scotland
Major Notes:
John Paul Jones is said to be "The Father of the American Navy."
His father was the gardener of the estate where they lived.
He was born only with the name "John Paul" and later added the name "Jones."
As a youth going to school, he would often visit the ships in a nearby port of Carsethorn.
At age 13, Jones elected to leave school and take a seven year seaman's apprenticeship program.
His first ship took him to Virginia where he lived with an older brother who had emigrated there.
During the next several months, Jones learned the rules of navigation.
In 1764, he was able to leave his required apprenticeship early and joined a ship, called the "King George", transporting slaves.
Two years later, he decided he had enough of the hardships of the slave trade and joined another ship, the "John."
On this ship, the Captain and the Mate died of fever, and Jones became the commander of the ship, bringing it safely back to port.
By the age of 25, Jones had become a Captain known for his classy style of dressing and for a fierce temper.
At one point he was charged with murder of a ship's carpenter but the charge was later dropped; nevertheless, the story followed Jones and became part of his reputation.
He did, however, later kill a mutinous crew member; an incident which brought him to North America while being declared by Britain as a pirate.
It was at this point that he added "Jones" to his name to help avoid capture.
With the outbreak of America's war with Britain in 1775, Jones became a Lieutenant in the Continental Navy.
Within a few months, he was Captain of the sloop "Providence" and had captured 16 British ships.
In 1777 he was made Commodore of a fleet of ships and continued with capturing ships along the Scotland and England coasts.
Jones, in 1779 with a smaller ship battling in extreme close quarters with a larger British ship, received sufficient damage and fire that the British declared he surrender.
Jones, however, declared "I have not yet begun to fight" and went on to capture the British ship.
After the American Revolution, with his popularity declining, Jones accepted a position of a Rear Admiral in the service of Empress Catherine of Russia.
Jones returned to Paris after his duties for Russia, dying at the age of 45 and was buried in a French royal cemetery.
His naval feats during the American Revolution brought Jones honor only after his death.
In 1905, steps were taken to have his body located and escorted back to United States by four cruisers and, in turn, seven battleships.
His remains are interred in the Chapel of the US Naval Academy where an honor guard is posted.
For detailed research and more information, check out any of the following:
