John Paul Jones: Difference between revisions

In [[1779]] Captain Jones took command of the ''U.S.S. Bonhomme Richard'', a merchant ship rebuilt and gifted to America by French shipping magnate, [[Jacques-Donatien Le Ray]]. On September 23 of that year, Jones encountered the British frigate ''Serapis'' in the [[North Sea]]. Sailing in close, Captain Jones had his men lash the ''Bonhomme Richard'' to the British ship, fighting the battle at point-blank range. During the fight, two of his cannon exploded, and the British captain demanded to know from Jones if he was then ready to surrender. John Paul Jones now famous response was: "''Sir, I have not yet begun to fight''." The American crew eventually boarded and took control of the ''Serapis'' and from its deck they watched the ''U.S.S.Bonhomme Richard'' sink to the bottom of the North Sea.

In [[1792]] Jones was appointed U.S. Consul to [[Algiers]], but on [[July 18]] he died before the commission arrived. He was buried in [[Paris, France]], but in [[1905]] his remains were removed from his long-forgotton grave and brought to the [[United States]] where, in [[1913]], theyhe were finallywas interred in the Chapel of the [[United States Naval Academy]] Chapel at [[Annapolis]], [[Maryland]].