Scottish Trivia. John Paul Jones.

John Paul Jones: The Scottish-Born Father of the American Navy

John Paul Jones (born John Paul) (1747 – 1792) was a Scottish-American naval captain who achieved fame during the American Revolutionary War. He is often referred to as the “Father of the American Navy” for his daring raids against British shipping and coastal towns, and his famous quote: “I have not yet begun to fight!“

Key Trivia Points about John Paul Jones:

1. Scottish Birth and Humble Origins:
2. He was born John Paul on July 6, 1747, at Arbigland, Kirkbean parish, Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland.
3. His father was a gardener on the Arbigland estate, and his mother was a domestic servant. His birthplace, a small cottage, is now a museum.
4. Early Naval Career and Controversies:
5. He went to sea at the age of 13, initially on a merchant ship bound for Virginia.
6. He quickly rose through the ranks in the merchant marine, becoming a captain.
7. However, his early career was marred by two incidents: in one, he flogged a crewman who later died (though Jones was cleared of wrongdoing); in another, he killed a mutinous sailor in self-defense in Tobago. This second incident, though likely justifiable, led him to flee to America around 1773 to avoid legal entanglement.
8. Adoption of “Jones” and American Patriot:
9. Upon arriving in America, he added “Jones” to his name, likely to distance himself from his past legal troubles.
10. He passionately embraced the cause of American independence and was commissioned as a First Lieutenant in the Continental Navy (the precursor to the U.S. Navy) in 1775, becoming one of its first officers.
11. Daring Raids on British Shores:
12. Jones became famous for bringing the fight to Britain itself. In 1778, he raided Whitehaven in England (the first attack on British soil by foreign forces in over a century) and attempted to capture the Earl of Selkirk.
    • He later sailed into the Solway Firth, close to his birthplace, creating panic.
13. “I Have Not Yet Begun to Fight!”:
14. His most legendary action occurred on September 23, 1779, during the Battle of Flamborough Head. Commanding the USS Bonhomme Richard (a refitted French merchant ship), he engaged the superior British warship HMS Serapis.
15. When asked to surrender by the British commander, Jones famously declared, “I have not yet begun to fight!” Despite his ship sinking, he managed to capture the Serapis in a bloody, close-quarters battle.
16. Later Life in Russia and France:
17. After the American Revolution, Jones served as a Rear Admiral in the Imperial Russian Navy under Catherine the Great, fighting against the Ottoman Empire.
18. He eventually retired to Paris, France, where he died in 1792.
19. Legacy:
20. He is considered a national hero in the United States, embodying the spirit of daring and perseverance.
21. His remains were eventually brought back to the U.S. in 1905 and interred in a magnificent sarcophagus at the United States Naval Academy Chapel in Annapolis, Maryland.

John Paul Jones’s story is a remarkable journey from a gardener’s son in rural Scotland to an international naval hero whose name is synonymous with courage and defiance.