John Paul Jones
BIRTH
Jul 6, 1747
Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland
DEATH
July 18, 1792
Paris, France
FAMILY
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Jones, John Paul
(1747-1792)
John Paul Jones was a Scottish American naval captain who was a naval commander in the American Revolutionary War.
HOMES:
MARKER
Admiral John Paul Jones House Marker
43 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH 03801
GRAVE:
CHURCH
United States Naval Academy Chapel crypt
175 Blake Road, Naval Academy, MD, 21412, United States
Jones was born and raised in Scotland, became a sailor at the age of thirteen, and served as commander of several merchantmen. After having killed one of his mutinous crew members with a sword, he fled to the Colony of Virginia and around 1775 joined the newly founded Continental Navy in their fight against the Kingdom of Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War. He commanded U.S. Navy ships stationed in France, led one failed assault on Britain, and several attacks on British merchant ships.
Jones left for Philadelphia shortly after settling in North America to volunteer his services around 1775 to the newly founded Continental Navy, precursor to the United States Navy. During this time, the Navy and Marines were being formally established, and suitable ship's officers and captains were in great demand. Jones's potential would likely have gone unrecognized were it not for the endorsement of Richard Henry Lee, who knew of his abilities. With help from influential members of the Continental Congress, Jones was appointed as a 1st Lieutenant of the newly converted 24-gun frigate USS Alfred in the Continental Navy on December 7, 1775.