[Peter Ansoff]

July 6th marks the birthday of Captain John Paul Jones, the preeminent American naval hero of the Revolutionary War. He is best known for his capture of the British warship SERAPIS in the North Sea in 1779. Alexander Mackenzie, himself a Navy Captain, summarized Jones's legacy: "He fought a battle, which for stubborn and resolute courage, and triumphant success, is unsurpassed . . . This is a service, the value of which will be felt in its animating and encouraging example, so long as we continue to have a name among the nations of the earth."

On 22 September 1782, Captain Jones wrote to the US Minister of Marine, "In time of peace it is necessary to prepare, and always be prepared for war by sea." True words, and as valid today as when he wrote them. However, they need to be understood in context. The Revolutionary War was winding down, and the Continental Navy was on its way to being disbanded. It was the ultimate downsizing: the remaining ships were sold, the officers and sailors pensioned off, and the shore establishments abolished. When he wrote those words, Jones anticipated, correctly, that he would soon be out of a job.

After a brief tour of service as an Admiral in the Russian Navy, Jones died in Paris, alone and forgotten, in 1792. At the time of his death, the United States had no naval forces, even on paper. He did not live to see the founding of the US Navy that reveres his name today.

To honor the Captain, we are flying the Serapis flag of 1779. We're also flying the Continental Colours, which Jones raised over the Alfred, the first ship of the Continental Navy, in 1775. (This was probably the first time that the flag of the United States was ever raised, and Jones mentioned several times in his writings that he was very proud of having done it). On the third pole, we have the modern flag of the US Navy Department.

Peter Ansoff

[Peter Ansoff]

Today is the birthday (1747) of Captain John Paul Jones. As noted in my post from last year, Jones is believed to have been the first person ever to raise an American flag. He himself was very much aware of this distinction; he mentioned in his writings how proud he was to have first hoisted the "flag of freedom." Happy Birthday, Commodore!

Peter Ansoff

[YCHistorian]

Peter,
If you haven't read it already, I recommend Evan Thomas' biography of John Paul Jones. It was Teddy Roosevelt who had Jones' remains disinterred from France and returned to the US.

-YC

[Peter Ansoff]

If you haven't read it already, I recommend Evan Thomas' biography of John Paul Jones.

I thought that Thomas's book was well written, but it didn't seem to add much new information to the standard JPJ biographies by Lorenz and Morison. I still haven't read Joseph Callo's recent book on JPJ -- it's on my "pending" shelf!

There's an interesting question about JPJ that occured to me recently. All historical sources that I've seen give his birthday as July 6, 1747. This was before the change from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar, which occured in 1752 in Britain and the colonies. Is the July 6 date "old style" or "new style?" If it is "old style," then we should celebrate his birthday 11 days later, on July 17th. This is what we do for George Washington's Birthday -- 22 February is the "new style" Gregorian date, not the actual calendar date when he was born. (However, we celebrate Columbus Day on the "old style" date.)

Peter Ansoff

[Peter Ansoff]

Once again, it's time to honor the memory of John Paul Jones, Commodore in the American Continental Navy, Chevalier of France and Kontr'Admiral in the Imperial Russian Navy. Jones is credited with hoisting the American flag for the first time, on 3 December 1775 aboard the "Alfred" in Philadelphia. Jones was extremely proud of having done this, and mentioned it several times in his later correspondence. He never described the flag that he raised, but other sources (including the report of a British spy) make it fairly certain that it was the "Continental Colors."

Jones's title of Chevalier is an interesting historical footnote. It was the French equivalent of a knighthood, and he was very proud of it -- he frequently signed his letters "Chevalier Paul Jones." I believe that Jones was the only American naval officer ever to hold a noble title. He is probably the only one that ever will, because both the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution forbid American citizens from holding such titles. Jones was "grandfathered" because he received the title before the Articles were adopted.

For his service in the Russian Navy, Jones received another noble title, the Order of St. Anne, from Empress Catherine the Great. He requested permission from the American Secretary of State, Thomas Jefferson, to accept the title; Jefferson told him that he could not change the Constitution. That didn't stop Jones from wearing the medal, however.

Peter Ansoff