John Paul Jones
By Eric Swanson
Too often great men are not appreciated during their lifetime. Not until many years later does history recognize what that individual accomplished. John Paul Jones was a naval leader like no other. Though he was rough around the edges, Jones was able to inspire and motivate sailors through grave circumstances to win battles. Like many other great men of history, Jones was not appreciated fully during his lifetime, forgotten at his deathbed, but praised many years later.
One example of Jones’ success was his cruise in the Continental sloop Ranger. Jones was aware of American prisoners of war in Britain. So, he felt it was his duty to go to Britain and seize some British prisoners for exchange. On April 22, 1778, he led an attack on Whitehaven, burning ships and causing destruction. This was the first time since 1667, when the Dutch burned Sheerness, that a foreign force had caused damage to a British port. Soon afterward Jones continued north to St. Mary’s Isle in Kirkeudbright Bay to capture an Earl as a prisoner. Unfortunately, the Earl was not be found, so Jones returned to his ship in defeat, or so he thought. The next day he enticed HMS Drake to battle. Through skillful maneuvering, Jones successfully defeated the British ship. Jones then refitted the Drake and pulled her and her two hundred prisoners back to Brest. Later the British prisoners were exchanged for American prisoners. The entire trip was a great success and boosted the morale for the Americans. Never had any foreign ship ever amounted so many victories against the mighty British Navy. When Jones returned, he expected appreciation and promotion, but gained neither. Congress failed to recognize the quality of a sailor and a leader they had.
While on the Bonhomme Richard, Jones’ sailed back to England to raid the coast. Instead he came upon a Baltic convoy being escorted by the Serapis with 44 guns. What ensued was one of the greatest ship battles of the Age of Sail. In the heat of battle the captain of the Serapis seeing the Richard had taken most of the damage said to Jones, “Has your ship struck?” Jones replied in his now famous words, “I have not yet begun to fight” Afterward, Jones and his crew defeated the Serapis due in part to a lucky grenade throw into the heart of the Serapis, crippling the ship. Jones was subsequently celebrated in France and in the Netherlands, but when he finally returned home to America he was under investigation for actions while in France. Jones never received the recognition he felt he deserved.
In Jones’ final days he was lonely and all but forgotten. In July 1792, he died of jaundice and other diseases. Given a commoners burial with hardly anyone present at the funeral, Jones was put to rest quietly though his actions during his lifetime were dramatic. Today, Jones is celebrated as having sound and successful strategic ideals. One other visionary idea that Jones had was he recommended to Congress to establish boards to evaluate officers and to create academies to teach sailors how to be officers. After his death, John Paul Jones is celebrated for his victories by sea and his visionary recommendations by letter.
John Paul Jones was a great naval leader. Unfortunately, he was not recognized for his accomplishments during his lifetime. However, society has now given him the credit and notary that he deserves.
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Date this page was last updated: 12/06/2002